Young V16 campaigners outside parliament: What do we want? Votes at 16! When do we want it? Now!
Voice over: Voting – adults take this basic right for granted, but many young people think they should have it too.
Jessica, British Youth Council Member: 16 year olds can pay income tax, they can get married, they can join the armed forces so why shouldn’t we be able to vote as well?
Voice over: Over 1.5 million 16 to 17 year olds are currently excluded from voting.
Kishan, UK Youth Parliament Member: I think it’s a travesty that we can’t vote and we don’t really have a say. If you want young people to be active throughout their community, it’s important to give them that chance to have a say young people will take power seriously.
Voice over: At The Co-operative, we believe young people should have a voice.
Justin Woolford, Senior Campaigns Manager, The Co-operative: At The Co-operative, you can become a member at 16, and each has a say in the operation of a £14 billion business. Why should it be any different when it comes to having a say in who runs the country?
Voice over: As part of the Votes at 16 coalition and together with our members, The Co-operative is calling for the voting age to be lowered to 16.
Ashley, Young campaigner: It’s immensely important issue for young people. So the earlier we can it habitual for to vote and to make their participation as early as possible, they earlier they will have democratic engagement.
Voice over: Other countries including Germany Brazil and Switzerland have already lowered the voting age to 16.
Dave Rowntree – Labour MP Candidate, Cities of London and Westminster: I think it is important to lower the voting age to 16, I think the arguments against simply don’t add up, they’re the same arguments that were used against women voting, and they’re just crazy.
Voice over: The Co-operative believes that in order for young people to play an active role in society, the first step is for society to trust, respect and empower them.
Justin Woolford, Senior Campaigns Manager, The Co-operative: The Co-operative has a very proud heritage of supporting the suffrage movement and lowering the voting age to 16 is the new frontier of that movement. We believe very strongly that lowering the voting age to 16 would significantly boost democratic and parliamentary renewal in the UK.
Voice over: As part of its campaign, The Co-operative is also strengthening citizenship education in schools to engage young people with democracy, and empower them to change their world. Tyrone Steele is 17 and studying for his A levels, he’s a UK youth parliament member, former young mayor of oxford and canvasser for his local MP. His latest campaign is against homophobic bullying in schools.
Tyrone: In 98% of cases, teachers have overheard or witnessed some kind of homophobic bullying on a termly basis, so that’s nearly all schools and I find that quite shocking really.
Voice over: He’s taking his issue to those in power, and calling for votes at 16
Tyrone: Votes at 16 – where are you on that?
Nicola Blackwood MP, Conservative Party: If I’m honest, I’m undecided, but I think if you’re for it, you should lobby me…!
Tyrone: Yes, you might well be getting some letters from me.
Voice over: James Bannon is passionate about combating negative stereotypes of teenagers. He’s taking his fight right to the top.
James meeting Theresa May, Home Secretary at the Home Office: Hello Home Secretary. Do you think there is a problem about negative stereotypes of teenagers in media and Government now?
Theresa May, Home Secretary: I think there is real issue, all too often YP are seen as the perpetrators, I think there is a need to change that stereotype as you say I’m a great believer in spreading the word, and so things like taking what you’re doing and letting people know.
Voice over: Rowan Ings is a passionate environmental campaigner…
Rowan: Parliament’s just over there. There’s a lot of candles, and a lot of press which is good.
Voice over: She volunteers at a local homeless charity, has set up a gardening project at her school, and is keen to improve recycling facilities for schools nationally. She’s taking her campaign to the first ever elected Green MP, Caroline Lucas
Caroline Lucas MP: The more young people like yourselves that are making the case strongly then I think that’s very powerful and people will listen
Rowan: In your manifesto it mentioned lowering the voting age?
Caroline Lucas MP: I think that Votes at 16 is a really important step forward as it recognises that young people have so much to contribute to society And they do actually know what they do want and I think its very patronising to suggest they don’t.
Voice over: Although they don’t yet have the right to vote, these young people are finding ways to get their voices heard. And people are taking notice.
Vincent Moss, Political Editor, Sunday Mirror: I think it’s a fantastic campaign, I know you’ve changed my mind and I will think about how I write about young people from now on.
Justin Woolford, Senior Campaigns Manager, The Co-operative: As well as campaigning for votes at 16 we’re investing over £21 million in an Inspiring Young People programme that is seeking to bring about a cultural shift in the way young people are viewed and treated in this country.
Voice over: By developing campaigns on issues they feel strongly about, many young people are politically engaged and deeply involved in their communities. They represent a generation who are more than ready for a political voice…
Justin Woolford, Senior Campaigns Manager, The Co-operative: There are a lot of inspiring young people out there doing amazing things and we need to involve them more in the social, economic and political decisions that will affect their future.
Tryone: You can even marry or sleep with your MP. I mean if you can do all those things and not actually vote for your MP on the issues that do affect you directly. I think that’s a great injustice and definitely something that needs to be sorted out.
Voice over: The Co-operative is Inspiring Young People to change their world. That’s why we’re calling for the voting age to be lowered to 16. Vote, vote, vote– NOW!
Titles – Visit our website to find out how you can support the campaign www.co-operative.coop/votesat16
ENDS