Tag: Andy Mycock
Votes at 16: we need a proper conversation about when adulthood begins
The vexed question of whether people should be allowed to vote from the age of 16 has returned to the Commons with Jim McMahon MP’s Private Member’s Bill. Many argue – citing the Scottish independence referendum – that it would provide a democratic stimulus. Yet the evidence for that is lacking, say Andy Mycock (University of […]
The Scottish independence referendum raises questions about the suitability of using referendums as a ‘test bed’ for a lowered voting age
Educating 16 and 17-year-olds about voting and citizenship takes time, says Andrew Mycock, and the Scottish referendum was a divisive introduction to politics for some of them. Nor is it mere coincidence that 18 is the voting age in 27 of the 28 EU member states. Similar PostsOur student generation has been disenfranchisedVotes at 16: […]
The prospect of greater regional and city devolution raises the spectre of the “Manchester Withington Question”
The Government’s plans for a “Northern Powerhouse” and the associated moves towards greater policy autonomy for Greater Manchester are combining to create a potential situation where MPs in Manchester and areas which may also in future enjoy similar powers can vote on matters which don’t effect their constituents. This, argue Andy Mycock and Arianna Giovannini represents […]
The Manifesto for Youth: Young people are demanding to be heard in the General Election
Young voters are very likely to turn out to vote in smaller numbers than older voters at the General Election, with party politics achieving little to no cut through with younger age groups. Despite this, there are signs of encouragement, according to Andy Mycock, who was involved in Huddersfield University’s Manifesto for Youth. Since the […]
Expert voices: is it time to lower the voting age to 16?
The question of whether the UK should lower the minimum voting age from 18 to 16 has been on the agenda recently, with Ed Miliband making it explicit Labour policy, and the SNP enfranchising 16 and 17 year olds to good effect during the Scottish independence referendum. As part of the LSE’s ‘Expert Voices’ series, […]
If Local Authorities are to succeed in increasing voter registration amongst young people, they must make use of direct recruitment
We are seeing increasing attention given to the issue of young people’s electoral participation. Electoral registration, the first step in the voting process, is one area in which activities to encourage a more electorally active youth might be targeted. Using data and feedback from a Cabinet Office evaluation of local authority activities aimed at maximising […]
Whatever the challenges and drawbacks, young women should continue to engage in politics
Young women often find it difficult to have their voices heard in what continues to be an older and male dominated sphere. Rosie Corrigan, the country’s youngest Mayor, argues that women have much to contribute, and despite the various drawbacks, challenges and restrictions that face young women attempting to create genuine change in their communities, […]
Compulsory political education is a must if we are to stem the flow of disengagement from politics
It is little wonder that young people continue to be turned off politics, argues Matteo Bergamini, when politics is something that is generally not discussed at school. He argues that we need dedicated political education to help young people understand the system that they are expected to become full participants in upon reaching the age […]
There is much that can be learned from Scotland’s decision to lower the voting age for the Independence referendum
The Electoral Commission this week began a publicity drive to ensure that people register to vote in the referendum. It has launched a dedicated website and is working with Facebook to target potential younger voters including 16 and 17 year olds who will be able to vote for the first time. Andy Mycock looks at the […]
The UK’s First World War commemorations should embrace the Commonwealth experience
The UK recently marked the centenary of the First World War, a conflict in which millions died, and most agree was futile and self-defeating, with Alex Salmond being particularly forthright in espousing this view. Here, Andy Mycock argues that both the UK and Scottish governments’ current approaches appear to overlook the transnational dynamics of First World […]
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