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Young non voters

(88 Posts)
J52 Wed 29-Apr-15 09:19:59

I heard a report on Radio 4's Today programme, on how young people are failing to register to vote.

I was shocked by the young people who displayed very little understanding of politics or the voting system.

Several years ago, when I taught, Citizenship was a compulsory for our 14+ students. Then it was taken from the curriculum and taught as an incidental to form time.

I now think that as a Granny, I may have another dimension to my role, to encourage my GCs, when the time is right, to have a political opinion.

What to other GNs think? Do we give enough importance to this part of young people's education? After all it will affect their lives, after we've gone. x

durhamjen Sun 03-May-15 18:40:21

I thought that, too, jane. How many other MPs would have asked the right questions, or known what questions to ask?
The PAC is a group of MPs from all different persuasions, not just Labour. Some of the Tories ask quite searching questions as well.
I think it was Pritti Patel who had to apologise to Margaret Hodge for libelling her.

granjura Sun 03-May-15 18:47:21

jane, couldn't have said it better. There is nothing wrong with owning shares or inheriting money, if all taxes due are honestly paid- and in the case of an MP, properly declared, is there?

TerriBull Sun 03-May-15 19:01:15

I'm a bit confused as to why her shares are off shore, I thought the point of that was that you don't pay tax on anything invested in an overseas tax haven, but would have to pay it if those assets are brought on shore.

durhamjen Sun 03-May-15 19:21:52

www.stemcor.com/Response%20to%20further%20allegations%20of%20tax%20avoidance%20in%20the%20UK%20press.aspx

From the company itself, when the allegations were made.

Eloethan Sun 03-May-15 19:29:16

Well, of course, Hodge (Labour supporter) with her £250,000 is labelled by some as a hypocrite even though all the appropriate taxes have been paid. Meanwhile, Barlow (Conservative supporter) who used a convoluted tax-avoidance scheme - subsequently found by the Tax Tribunal to be illegitimate - to shelter around £20 million, is portrayed by some as a "victim".

durhamjen Sun 03-May-15 19:35:30

Just went on parliament.org and Hodge's shares are listed, so completely legal. It was her father, Oppenheimer who set up the business and the family trust, about which she knew nothing.
I imagine that she has found out a lot more about these things since she became chair of the PAC.
While I was on there, I noticed a Tory MP's listing. I did not take note of his name, but he has had over £200,000 in donations over the last year.

apricot Mon 04-May-15 19:00:39

Back to the op - when I pointed out that my eldest granddaughter would miss the election and her first chance to vote, she said vaguely, "Oh, will I?"
I totally understand her apathy, I've been bored to tears with months of electioneering. She is just off travelling in the east for three months then goes to university. She has her first intense relationship with a lovely boy.
How can politics compare with the concerns of teenagers?

durhamjen Mon 04-May-15 21:47:57

We didn't have the vote until we were 21, so it didn't matter. Had two kids by then, so I was a real grown up.

Ana Mon 04-May-15 21:56:01

Voting at 18 was introduced in 1969 - the year I reached that age!

mcem Mon 04-May-15 22:24:57

I voted in 1969 just as I turned 21!

durhamjen Wed 06-May-15 23:29:55

There wasn't an election in 1969. It was 1970, when I was 21.

Ana Wed 06-May-15 23:32:26

There may have been a local election in mcem's area in 1969.
Nit-picking.