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Original poster

What is your opinion on an 18 year old standing for election?

81 replies

Honeyroar · 25/01/2019 15:42

A nearby area has just announced that an 18 year old will be standing for election for one of the local political parties. What’s your opinion? Do you think that they can do a good job with so little life experience? They’ve been a member of youth politics and school council.

OP posts:
HirplesWithHaggis · 25/01/2019 15:48

Local council or general election? Either way, while I agree an 18yo has little life experience, they could well be an excellent representative. Likely to have a bit more passion for the cause than someone older and perhaps more jaded. Mhairi Black became an MP at the age of 20 and she's pretty impressive.

Original poster
Honeyroar · 25/01/2019 16:43

General election.
Thanks for your comments. I'm not sure.

OP posts:
BiggerBoat1 · 25/01/2019 16:46

Ridiculous. No life experience. I would never vote for someone so young irrespective of party or policies.

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18 years old
Lollypop27 · 25/01/2019 16:50

I like it.

Most MPs have had a life of luxury and don’t grasp what young people of today have to go through. I’m only 36 but I had it a lot easier than 18 year olds today.

As for the no life experience... most MPs don’t have the life experience like we have had. None of them have had to worry about university costs, housing and so on.

Original poster
Honeyroar · 25/01/2019 17:03

But nor has this boy Lollypop. He's not moved out of home, not applied for uni, not had a loan or mortgage. Only been driving 6 months..

OP posts:
Sylvanianfamiliesnurseryset · 25/01/2019 17:04

I’d take it on a case by case basis. Your drip feed doesn’t sound promising but I’d have to consider the full picture.

Saucery · 25/01/2019 17:04

He’ll be a puppet for whatever group has encouraged him. No life experience, probably precious little empathy....nope, I would not vote for him.

JaiNotJay · 25/01/2019 17:10

While I am all for more diverse representation in theory, in my own personal experience I have found that the type of person who would stand to become an MP at that age is not the type of person who makes a good representative. Of course there are exceptions, Mhairi Black being one, but the young wannabe politicians I've encountered are quite dogmatic and not good at relating to a wide range of people. This is just my experience and I would always judge any candidate on their merits regardless of age.

MrsTerryPratcett · 25/01/2019 17:13

He's not been fielded hoping he'll win, though, surely? It's either an extremely safe seat for the other party or something very weird is going on.

I knew a lot about politics at 18. I had been volunteering with charities, worked at a homeless shelter at that age. Very active member of Greenpeace and CND. Marched a lot Grin I had moved out though.

Jackshouse · 25/01/2019 17:15

I would rather have a passionate 18 year old than a Eton educated career politician who only cares about their career.

Iloveautumnleaves · 25/01/2019 17:16

I don’t think it makes much difference. The people who WANT to stand all seem to be the sort who SHOULDN’T be doing the job. Anyone who would be good at the job generally doesn’t want to do it.

HirplesWithHaggis · 25/01/2019 17:16

It's usual for baby politicians to stand a few times before actually being elected, just for the experience.

FurzeandHarebells · 25/01/2019 17:16

Well either people will vote for him or they won’t.

Mhari Black was highly articulate but also stood for her seat with exquisite timing.

She was clearly intelligent , engaged and charismatic but that might not have mattered had her opponent not been Douglas Alexander.

Your local 18 yo will have to work hard to get elected. It seems unlikely he will be but there no reason he shouldn’t stand if he can afford to.

Largepiecesofcrookedwood · 25/01/2019 17:18

The DS of a friend of ours stood in local elections at 19 and I have to say, our friendship aside, I found his passion quite compelling though I didn't vote for him for a lot of the reasons above
He was not elected (was running for a minority party so not solely down to his age) but speaking to him since he does seem to have far more of a grasp of the issues that affect younger people. Whether he would have the maturity and wisdom to deal with them has not been proved, but in a few years I imagine he will be a strong candidate.

DowntonCrabby · 25/01/2019 17:21

Generally I’d say too young to have had any life experience but I’d imagine most politically interested, intelligent 18 year olds would be hugely switched on.

I’m not a Scottish Nationalist but Mairi Black was elected to the HOC aged 20 and is an absolute inspiration.

DowntonCrabby · 25/01/2019 17:22

*Mhairi

Original poster
Honeyroar · 25/01/2019 17:30

I don’t think I’m drip feeding- I only added the election. The rest is just things that a typical 18 yr old is - living at home, not a graduate so no loans, new driver etc.

It’s not my ward, so I won’t have to decide. I personally think he’s too young and it’s a throwaway seat for that particular party, but I may be wrong. I’m just interested to see how other people feel.

OP posts:
Mulberryandthyme · 25/01/2019 17:31

It's ludicrous

Auntiepatricia · 25/01/2019 17:32

Without a doubt they will have a lot to learn but some people are exceptional regardless of age.

GottenGottenGotten · 25/01/2019 17:34

Depends on the person whether or not they'd get my vote, but I'm impressed by their getting involved at such an early age. Bodes well for the future.

Good on him!

greendale17 · 25/01/2019 17:36

Pointless. I would never vote for someone that toung

x2boys · 25/01/2019 17:44

I think it's admirable that he wants to get involved with politics at such young age , a lot of 18 yr is a are very idealistic though and whils t he may know a lot about how people his age and what's important to them ,
His lack of life experience would put me off

Hen2018 · 25/01/2019 17:48

We have an 18 year old district councillor. He was elected last year and we’ve heard absolutely nothing from him since.

And he’s a conservative.

DGRossetti · 25/01/2019 17:48

I think it's admirable that he wants to get involved with politics at such young age

Not really ... career politicians are probably part of the reason we're in the mess we're in.

My US based DB met his senator (Fred Thompson) a couple of times through his work. FT was scathing about the way politics had become a career and noted the original aim of the Founding Fathers was that people should do a couple of terms and then go back to business.

I guess a lot depends on whether people feel it's OK for politics to be a business, rather than part of civic life ?

IamFrauBlucher · 25/01/2019 17:49

Well it worked for William Pitt the younger I guess.

I'd be curious to hear them speak on their policies and what they'd contributed to the community etc if they stood for a party I believed in.