How to attract the support of
younger voters in a Campaign

In this must read article for MP's and future prospective parliamentary candidates, PPC for Sunderland South Robert Oliver (who achieved a well above average national swing of 4.2% for the Conservatives in a region where the majority of the swing went to the Liberal Democrats) has outlined from his own experiences in the last election campaign the difficulty of engaging younger peoples interest in election campaigning.

Robert cites this as partly to do with there being a negative perception of both politics and politicians amongst younger people, but also points to a growing communication breakdown between the electorate and the politicians who are elected to represent them.

Robert goes on to identify the issues that he feels from his own experience as both a candidate and teaching sixth form students Politics will engage and reawaken youth interest in both campaigns and elections. Finally, he outlines the importance of approach and context to attracting young voters, such as the need for positive campaigning and involving younger people in informal policy discussion.

Robert has been involved with Consult for well over a year now and attended our general meeting last August where he addressed members on the difficulties in engaging younger people with politics. He set up the Sixth Form Politics Prize with Consult Chairman Matthew Page in March 2005 for Dame Allan’s Schools in March 2005, this rewarding students for the submission of original policy related ideas.

Matthew Page
Jan 2006

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