Sarah Teather (Liberal Democrats), Charles Hendry (Conservative) and Barry Sheerman (Labour) connected with first-time voters last week (Monday, April 18 – Friday, April 23, 2005) via the leading youth website www.TheSite.org.
Over 3,500 people viewed the discussion board content and by quizzing the ‘game’ candidates on any issue they pleased, over 150 TheSite.org users challenged the three parties to prove that their policies reflect the issues of importance to first - time voters.
“What have you done for the past three years in an attempt to understand what we want from you?” asked one young person online, while others posed questions about abortion, student grants, MRSA, immigration, youth crime and the war in Iraq.
Hannah Jolliffe, Editorial Manager of TheSite.org was impressed by the young voters’ passion. “There’s been a general assumption that young people aren’t interested in politics, but the dialogue on TheSite.org proves that this isn’t true. The discussion boards show that young voters want to engage with politicians on the issues that effect them, and they want solid proof that their views will be reflected in UK government policy.”
Charles Hendry, the Conservative candidate for Wealdon has learnt a great deal from The.Site.org users: “This has been a fantastic way of engaging with younger voters and learning more about their views during this election campaign period. New technologies, such as the internet, are becoming an increasingly important way of helping to break down the barriers between young people and the political process, because of the speed and ease of access.
“This discussion has confirmed what I have felt for some time - young people do care passionately about the interests affecting their lives, and the crucial role for politicians is ensuring that we respond effectively to their concerns. This forum will certainly help me in my efforts to do that, and I hope that our Manifesto for Young People will reflect the Conservative Party's commitment to doing so over the past few years."
Barry Sheerman, the Labour candidate for Huddersfield said: "I have enjoyed engaging in the online discussion and have been impressed by the high level of interest and variety of contributions. The internet provides politicians with an additional way of ensuring that they are accessible to the electorate.”
Sarah Teather, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Brent East said: “Young people are said to be apathetic about politics. I don’t think that they are: they’re just turned off by politicians and party politics. I hope that I showed that politics isn’t about petty point-scoring, but about resolving important issues. The experience has spurred me into considering how better to engage the younger generation – who after all aren’t much younger than me!”
The discussion will sit on TheSite.org’s message boards indefinitely. The online dialogue can be viewed via http://vbulletin.thesite.org.uk/showthread.php?t=81070
Hannah Joliffe, Sarah Teather, Charles Hendry and Barry Sheerman are available for interview.
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For further information contact Lucja Wisniewska on tel: 020 7288 7309, email lucja@youthnet.org or call 07930 929492 (out of hours).
Notes to editors:
- Visit TheSite.org’s election special for bite-size guides to all the issues that effect young voters: http://www.thesite.org/homelawandmoney/law/election2005
- Visit: http://www.thesite.org/community/reallife/truestories/youngpolitician to view an interview with a young politician.
- For sound bites asking young people if they plan to vote visit: http://www.thesite.org/community/reallife/soundbites/volunteering
- TheSite.org is managed by YouthNet UK, a charity set up in 1995 by Martyn Lewis CBE. TheSite.org supports young people (16-24 year-olds) in the UK by providing emotional support, options and signposting to relevant experts on issues such as money, sex, drugs, housing, relationships, health and law.
- Over 350,000 people use TheSite.org every month.
- TheSite.org’s discussion boards (vbulletin.thesite.org) provide a place for peer-to-peer support. There are over 14,000 members.
- The discussion will remain ‘live’ and be viewable by any visitor indefinitely.
TheSite.org ran a similar discussion with Minister for Europe Dennis MacShane in 2003.
