The deafening silence of youth: A crisis in UK democracy
Written by Andrea Sotelo, Senior Marketing Officer
The saying goes that silence is deafening, but sometimes silence simply speaks nothing at all. Sometimes silence is the absence of voice. In the recent UK general elections, the silence of the youth has become the absence of representation in their voices.
The 2024 election turnout tells a grim story, continuing a concerning trend from previous elections. Approximately 44% of young people opted not to vote, a slight improvement from the 47% abstention rate in 2019. However, this marginal increase in youth turnout offers little reassurance. With over five million 18 to 24-year-olds in the UK, their collective political impact is substantial. Yet, barely half voted in 2019, compared to more than 80% of over-75s. This isn't mere apathy. It's a profound disillusionment that threatens the very foundations of our democracy.
According to YouGov (2024):
➜ Only 8% of under-30s voted Conservative in 2024, a significant drop from 23% in 2019
➜ 45% of 18-24 year olds supported Labour
➜ The Green Party received 18% of the vote among 18-24 year olds in 2024, a substantial increase from 5% in 2019
➜ Among Black Britons, 73% cited the cost of living as a top issue, compared to 53% of the general population
These statistics are not just numbers; they indict our failure to engage the next generation politically. The Conservative Party has witnessed a marked decline in youth support, while Labour has maintained a solid position. The most notable shift has been towards the Green Party, whose youth support tripled between 2019 and 2024.
This comparison underscores the ongoing challenge of youth participation in politics and points to a growing preference among young people for progressive and environmentally-focused policies. The significant swing away from Conservatives towards Greens suggests that young voters increasingly prioritize issues like climate change and social justice.
Voting Out the Status Quo
It's often said that we don't vote governments in, we vote governments out. This sentiment resonates particularly strongly with young voters who feel disconnected from the political establishment. We've created a political landscape where young people, especially those from black-heritage backgrounds, don't see themselves reflected. Where their concerns are footnotes in manifestos.
For black-heritage voters, the resonance is particularly stark. Their overwhelming concern with the cost of living reflects broader socio-economic disparities and a feeling of being marginalized within political discourse. This demographic's voting patterns highlight a critical need for inclusive policies that address systemic inequalities.
The reasons for this disengagement are complex and multifaceted. Economic pessimism plays a significant role. As Keiran Pedley, director of politics at Ipsos, notes, "They tend to be much more pessimistic about the economy than the population overall." This pessimism is rooted in real-world challenges: skyrocketing housing costs, stagnant wages and reduced chances of social mobility than their parents.
Furthermore, young voters feel ignored by the major parties. The dynamics of an election where Conservatives focus on their core vote and Labour targets middle England leaves little room for youth concerns. As Guy Miscampbell, head of political and social research at Focaldata, points out, young voters are "fractionally more likely to be supporting non-major parties and slightly less likely to report satisfaction when voting or [about] the idea of voting."
The Disillusioned Generation
This disillusionment isn't just a threat to the major parties - it's a threat to our society's future. A generation that doesn't vote is a generation that feels powerless to affect change in their communities, their workplaces, their lives. It's a generation at risk of being seduced by extremist ideologies or giving up on the democratic process altogether.
The consequences are already visible. In the recent European elections, young voters helped fuel the rise of far-right parties in countries like France and Germany. While the UK hasn't seen a significant shift towards extremism, the growth of smaller parties among young voters should serve as a wake-up call.
As educators, community leaders, and decision-makers, we must confront this reality. We must ask ourselves: How have we contributed to this disillusionment? And more crucially, what are we prepared to do about it?
The answers won't be comfortable. They'll require us to challenge our institutions, our methods, our very understanding of youth engagement. We need to create spaces where young voices are not just heard, but actively sought out and valued. We need policies that address the economic insecurities that plague this generation. We need political discourse that speaks to their concerns, not just in election years, but consistently.
But above all, we need to rebuild trust. Trust in the political process, trust in the power of democracy, trust that their voices matter. Because a youth that doesn't dream of change is a society without a future.
Bibliography:
YouGov. (2024). How Britain voted in the 2024 general election. [Survey Results]
YouGov. (2024). Ethnic minority Britons at the 2024 general election. [Survey Results]
Morris, J. (2024). 'It's a vicious cycle why many young people don't vote'. BBC News.
Mohamed, E. (2024). UK general election 2024: What are the key issues shaping the vote? Al Jazeera.
Savage, M. and Ahmed, A. (2024). Disaffection among young UK voters fuelling growth of smaller parties. The Observer.
The Independent. (2024). Why was 'worrying' general election turnout so low, and will it ever recover?
The Guardian. (2024). Twelve charts that show how Labour won by a landslide.
Al Jazeera. (2024). UK general election 2024 results: Five key takeaways.
McDonnell, A. (2024). The potential impact of young voters on the 2024 general election. YouGov.
British Election Study. (2019). Age voting patterns in the 2019 UK General Election. [Survey Results]