Democracy – young voices heard

Aug142018 by James CathcartNo Comments

What top 10 youth campaigns will feature on UK Youth Parliament’s ‘Make Your Mark’ ballot 2018? Here’s our review of the likely runners and riders

#MAKEYOURMARK ballot – PREDICTIONS !! This blog will be updated with our reaction to the official top 10 when the polls open on 22nd August 2018

The votes are in – the counting complete – the ballots printed. Now you will decide (if you are aged 11-18) what will be shortlisted for the UK Youth Parliament’s campaign debate in the House of Commons later this year. In this blog we review some of the possible campaigns likely to appear on the ballot. [Check back when the polls open from 22nd August to 10th October to find out what campaigns are official]. You can then vote at a school or youth service near you prioritise 5 from the list of 10. If there isn’t an election centre near you, you can still vote through ‘Youngvoicesheard’, and take part in the biggest annual consultation of young people in Europe, if not the world!

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Feb152018 by James CathcartNo Comments

Votes at 16 : All-Party Parliamentary Group 2018

Blogs, Democracy, Uncategorized, Young Voices Heard

Is now the time for a new parliamentary body, such as an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), to enable cross-party dialogue to explore consensus on lowering the voting age to 16 with measures to sustain it? Votes at 16 for all elections is achievable but not inevitable. It is such an important constitutional change it demands a great political and public consensus to be sustainable [lesson learnt from Brexit]. This article explores why and ways to move forward.

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Jul122017 by James CathcartNo Comments

A Strong #Youthvote Is In The National Interest because.. (2/5/17)

Blogs, Democracy, Uncategorized, Young Voices Heard

A strong #youthvote turnout is in the national interest because it is a measure of the health of our democracy, an early indicator of the life-time relationship between voters and their representatives, a sign of understanding, a dividend of education and a measure of mandate. We need to nurture it, and if we feed it, it will grow to benefit us all. However, evidence suggests the trend has been in the other direction. This blog was first published at the beginning of May 2017 when the General Election had just been announced, and formed the basis for an open letter to political leaders on the day of the result in June which can be found in a referenced Paper for the Political Studies Association in February 2018. To be published but contact us for a copy. Continue reading “A Strong #Youthvote Is In The National Interest because.. (2/5/17)” →

Jul62017 by James CathcartNo Comments

“Youth Voices Heard – in Parliament”

Blogs, Democracy, Uncategorized, Young Voices Heard

Getting “Youth Voices Heard” in Parliament is one of the three top priorities of the ‘Young Voices Heard’ initiative. (the others being in the Boardroom and in Communities. It based on the assumption that the health of a nation’s governance is proportionate to the level of participation of its young people in public life, and in particular, their understanding and engagement with their Parliament. This blog was first written by the founder of Young Voices Heard in 2017 but was expanded and developed into a Paper for the Political Studies Association in 2018 which is available on request and awaiting publication.

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