2-July-2002

MP publishes report on young people and politics in Southampton

Examining political apathy among young people and ways to reconnect with them from text voting and youth advice surgeries to lowering the age of voting to 16 is the subject of a wide-ranging report launched by Southampton MP Alan Whitehead on Friday 4 July 2003 at 12.40pm at Regents Park Girls School, King Edward Avenue.

Alan Whitehead, MP for Southampton Test, says,
"A lot has been written in recent years about disillusionment with politics and the political system among young people and to test the water I sought the views of 14-18 years olds living in Southampton to gauge the real picture on the ground. The report shows that far from being not interested in politics young people have strong and often passionate views; it's just that they often feel ignored by politicians."

Called 'Pump02 - report and recommendations' the report seeks to build on the work of the pump up the vote awareness campaign, which took place in October 2002 and included a questionnaire, visits to schools and colleges and a youth forum. Recommendations are then made on how to make politics more relevant to the lives of young people.

Alan Whitehead continued,
"Young people should have access to local politicians and an opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns. Hopefully by the opening of regular channels of communication they will have plenty of chances to debates and discuss the issues that affect them and their friends'. "

The project is part of an ongoing campaign aimed to promote greater interactivity between young people and politicians. The 2002 Pump up the Vote campaign included the distribution of citizenship packs (a newsletter, questionnaire and specially designed postcard) among schools, colleges and youth organisations and a forum that staged a discussion between representatives of all schools and colleges involved and Alan Whitehead.

Alan Whitehead, continues,
"As a result of the views expressed in the questionnaires and during my visits to schools and colleges we are developing a programme, including, a regular forum for young people to increase dialogue with decision-makers, more youth advice surgeries and more visits to parliament, to make politics more relevant to their everyday life."

The report will be posted on Alan Whitehead's website www.alan-whitehead.org.uk here (Word document - 95k) - to save a copy to your computer, right click on your mouse and select "save target as"
Copies will be available from the constituency office on 023 8023 1942.

ENDS

Note to editors:
- A copy of the report is available by contacting Mike Collins in Alan Whitehead's Constituency Office on 023 8023 1942 or 07855 328914.
- The statistics were compiled through anonymous questionnaires distributed through 6 schools and colleges in the Southampton area and were completed by nearly 600 young people.
- An image of the front cover from the report is available by contacting Mike Collins on 023 8023 1942 or 07855 328914.

Contact
Mike Collins in the constituency office on 023 8023 1942 or 07855 328914