The Political Youth of Wales

For decades there has been an assumption that young people have stopped caring about politics; youth voter turnout is historically low and has continued to fall. According to IPSOS just 47% of 18 to 24-year-olds voted in the 2019 election compared to 61% across the general population. Age can be a huge dividing line with regards to ideology, a higher youth turnout could help close this division. For example, in the 2019 election the Labour Party had a 43-point lead amongst voters aged 18 to 24 compared to being 12 points behind overall.

Figures from Scotland, where the voting age is 16, show that 89% of 16- to 18-year-olds registered to vote before the 2014 Independence Referendum. As well as this, recent campaigns like the Black Lives Matter movement, Extinction Rebellion and the Youth Strike for Climate have seen a vast increase in youth activism showing young people do care.

Although voting figures are low, who are the young people taking a role in politics? And how can younger generations be inspired to get involved? Could they be the country’s future leaders?

Jake Bell Watson

President of the Cardiff University Green Society

President of the Green society at Cardiff University, Jake Bell Watson, splits his time between championing environmental activism and studying for his undergraduate degree in journalism and politics.

The student chose to stand as president of the society as he is passionate about environmental issues and getting young people involved in what he describes as 'Green activities'.

Referencing the current climate crisis Jake stresses the importance of young people getting involved. "I think for the youth it's good to be involved in environmental activities especially with climate change happening as well at the moment".

He also sees The Green Party as a “political organisation of the future” not only because of its stance on environmental issues but also because of its stance on the cost-of-living crisis, which he believes isn’t addressed by either the Labour or the Conservative Party. The Green Party has a strong stance on the Cost of Living Crisis, calling for an increase in the minimum wage and higher taxes for the most wealthy individuals.

Looking up to moderate politicians like Gordon Brown who he describes as 'pragmatic', Jake highlights the need to bring people together in the name of politics. In his role he aims to get people “from all different parts of the UK and abroad… [involved] in political activities”, attracting people into politics who may not already have an interest.

From his experience as Green Society president, Jake believes many young people already have an interest in politics, especially when it comes to environmental issues and social justice. However, he believes that education is the key to getting more young people actively involved in politics Bell Watson highlights the need to educate the youth on what he describes as "the real issues" such as climate change.

According to Jake protesting is a big part of politics and a good way for young people to get involved and make a difference. In his role, Jake has been involved in organising and promoting a number of protests including a Refugees are Welcome solidarity protest as well as a number of environmental based activities.

Using Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, the Cardiff Uni Green Society is a good example of how young people can get involved in politics online. Social media-based activism, according to Jake, is also a great way to engage young people. He states “if you look at Black Lives Matter for example that’s a good way in which lots of young people got involved in it and were able to share these movements through social media platforms”. The Black Lives Matter movement was pivotal in engaging young people in activism, according to a study in Yale News 70% of respondents aged 11-15 say they engaged with the media surrounding the movement.

Advocating for political societies in university Jake calls for anyone with an interest in politics and driving change to get involved “through an organisation such as the Green Party".

Jodi Parikh

Jodi Parikh and her three-year-old daughter at the March of the Mummies protest

As a mother and advocate for government reform on childcare and parental leave Jodi Parikh encourages her children to understand the world around them.

Attending the ‘march of the mummies’ protest, Jodi and her three-year-old daughter joined thousands of other parents across the UK. Organised by the campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed, the protest called for government reform on childcare, parental leave and flexible working. The protest included a number of speakers including the former Plaid Member of the Senedd Bethan Sayed, who stood down after struggling to balance childcare with her political work.

Jodi believes it was important to bring her child with her to the protest acknowledging the fact that “children are born with so much energy, passion and curiosity. They question everything”. She believes that as adults “we should do everything we can to help them make sense of the events going on around them” including politics, economics, science and religion.

Acknowledging the importance of involving children and young people in politics, and the more general world around them, Jodi states children are “very capable of understanding it all and contributing in their own unique way”. This education and involvement in politics at a young age could prove pivotal in getting future generations to vote or take an interest in politics; as, according to the 89 Initiative, just 47% of 18-24-year-olds voted in the 2019 general election, this is down 7% from 2017.

Only 47% of 18-24 years olds voted in the 2019 General Election...

...compared to 54% in 2017.

Ellis Peares

Member of the Welsh Youth Parliament for Cardiff Central

The Welsh youth parliamentarian for Cardiff Central and the Equalities Officer for the youth wing of Plaid Cymru, Ellis Peares has already pushed the boundaries for a teenager in politics.

Aged just 16 Ellis, who is also studying for his A-levels, wanted to be a member of the youth parliament because he is “really passionate about a lot of things, [including] LGBTQ+ rights and mental health support for young people”. One of his role models is the gay rights activist and Stonewall co-founder Lisa Power; "it's incredible the amount of work she's done". As the youth member of parliament for Cardiff Central, he created a manifesto of improving LGBTQ+ support in schools and advised senior members of the Welsh Government on future inclusivity policies in schools.

Peares stresses the importance of having young people involved in politics "because if we are going to make decisions about young people we need young people involved" in the decision making. Urging young people to get involved he states that "it's a great way to raise your voice about something that's important to you". He advocates to "give the underrepresented generation a voice".

Ellis believes we can inspire young people to get involved in politics by showing them “what effect it can have and how it can make a difference”. In a world where, according to Ellis, the opinions of young people “aren't valued as much as someone who is a bit older” the youth parliament allows young people to have a say and raise their voices about issues that are important and ultimately affect them.

The youth parliamentarian is keen to highlight the number of ways in which young people can get involved in politics including youth councils, local health youth boards and through roles such as youth mayors.

In a message to young people Ellis states "If your a young person who's looking to get involved in activism or politics or there's something you want to change then just go for it, don't think about anyone else's opinion."

Nikki Merrick

Nikki Merrick and fellow parent, Gem Borley, with their children at the 'March of the Mummies' protest

Nikki Merrick, also attended the March of the Mummies protest, with her 2 children, to demand affordable childcare, flexible working and fully ring-fenced paid parental leave.

She felt it was important to attend the protest with her daughter “to take a stand with fellow parents” and add her “voice to their call for government reform regarding subsidising affordable, good quality childcare”. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the UK has the second most expensive childcare in the world. The campaign group Pregnant then Screwed is calling for this to change. Nikki and her husband alone have spent “£40,000 for [their] children to attend nursery 2 days a week over the past few years”.

Questioning the choices made, particularly by the Westminster government, Nikki says “political choices are being made which prevents flexible working, affordable childcare and parental leave”. She thinks this issue is of great importance, not just for parents but also for future generations stating that “investing in childcare is investing in the future and the economy”.

Nikki acknowledged the importance of bringing her child[ren] to the protest, and involving them in this political campaign, as it is an issue that directly affects them. She states, “by not protesting there will be no change, women’s rights are fundamental in ensuring a better future for all children”. Highlighting the urgency of the matter and how the issue affects children, as well as parents, Nikki states “This needs to change. For our children’s futures”.

Ewan Goodjohn

Councillor in the Vale of Glamorgan

Ewan Goodjohn is a Unite the Union, Humanist UK and Labour Party member. As he continues to represent his community as councillor for the Cadoc ward in the Vale of Glamorgan, he is more politically engaged than the stereotypical teenager.

The economics student, took a political role because he simply wanted to make a change. He describes politics as “the act of living” and states, "politics is the community centre, politics is funding for the police, politics is everything”. He states “when I look outside, I see the roads are maintained by the council and if you’re not happy with it, you need to take it up with the council. If you feel young people aren't getting the services they deserve then you need to take it up with the council”.

As a councillor, the eighteen-year-old originally from England, takes inspiration from his former local councillor Dr Nick Johnson, in the “little market town” of St Neots, in Cambridgeshire. Ewan, who describes Dr Johnson as his “top role model”, serves his ward in any way he can; from “dealing with people's housing issues” to “litter issues [and] anything [else] to do with the council”.

Ewan believes young people take a great interest in politics, highlighting recent protests such as the climate youth strikes and points out the legacy of figures such as Greta Thunberg. However, he also states that “young people don’t fully get what the best most effective way is to bring about… change” is, due to “our lack of political education”. Ewan is critical of the lack of political education across the UK however highlights the steps taken by the Welsh Government in the new curriculum for Wales. Encouraging people to get involved he states that “the biggest problem is how many people already believe they can’t make a big difference”.

As a proponent of reform, Ewan urges young people to get involved in politics and make a change. Particularly in Wales, he states “there is so much opportunity through devolution to make constitutional change” which he believes is the most effective form of change. “Every little change to our system will have a knock-on effect”.