... to worry that the EU referendum has reinforced the disenfranchisement of young people?

[olderthanyouthink]

Ignoring the meaning of the two voting options for a minute.

I kind of think that the referendum has, in a way, proved that commonly held belief that the young peoples votes don't make a difference. Tonnes of young people voted for the first time yesterday because they started to believe that they might be able to make a difference but unfortunately it seems (in the media and YouGovs poll) the the young were over ruled but the old.

I think it would be a different story if there wasn't such a stark difference in what the generations wanted. I can't help but think this is just set back the progress of getting young people involved in politics.

If they are immature, maybe they shouldn't be allowed to vote at all, using the logic that has been applied to older people today.

They're cross! So what! The side they wanted to win didn't[ that happens in democracy: maybe a book explaining it to them might help.

Indeed so what. It's hardly the headline of the day. Students cross at election result. They haven't suggested anything about the eligibility criteria for voters -age, maturity 'under-educated' or otherwise

They're law / politics students. I think they understand how it works. In my opinion it doesn't give anyone the right to suggest they can't feelanything afterwards.

Their votes do count just not enough agreed with them

Totally with you OP.

My DD1 is 21 and voted remain, as did I (50). DH (53) voted leave.

DD1 has been studying European languages and had planned to work in the EU. That will now be much more difficult for her, if all of the rhetoric today is to be believed (and I know it is still early days, things could change, a week is a long time in politics etc.).

DH has told her that he voted leave because he feels it is in HER best interests, take back control, hark back to a non-existent golden era before the EU (where, as I say, she was hoping to work folllowing her degree).

In an attempt to head off the worst of the arguments, I did warn DH that the paternalistic and patronising approach would not cut the mustard or be appreciated, but he wouldn't listen. It has pitted the two of them against each other, at daggers drawn, and with me caught in the middle.

Can we please rewind several months and never have this referendum called? I had a reasonably happy family set-up then, or at least no open hostilities.

DD feels disenfranchised by the more numerous older people who voted leave. She resents that, and it has also boiled over into arguments between her and DH. I know that DH can see DD's point of view, but for now he is being very stubborn about acknowledging it (he will eventually).

I understand DD's point of view. I also understand DH's in that he can use his vote as he sees fit. It is his patronising "our generation knows best" approach to DD that has spectacularly backfired.

Perhaps my only solution is to bash their two heads together!!??

My DH's 15 yr old niece has never shown an interest in politics before but seems genuinely upset by this result. Her mother and grandparents (my SIL/ PIL) voted leave. When young people in the 80s were pissed off with the Thatcher government they at least had the hope of change. This really is a no going back situation and so I think many young people will feel pretty disaffected.

Topseyt - Please explain to your DD that 24% of people aged 18-24 voted to leave, so she should round up her friends and ask them why one in four of them did so.

Also - my father managed to work in Europe for 30 years before we joined the EU, both my brothers studied at universities in Germany (post grad) before we joined the EU, and I worked as a volunteer there before we joined the EU - so she shouldn't give up too easily.

I've lived in a 'safe seat' constituency for most of my adult life - sadly, it's not 'safe' for my party
Therefore, almost every vote that I've ever cast has been 'wasted'. It's never put me off going to vote - partly because I was brought up to believe that everyone should vote (as a civic duty) and partly because I knew that people had died to get me the right to vote...
The right to vote does not - sadly - being with it the right to win and that's quite a good lesson to learn (in my view) as you can always hope...

I think it's the shock pf actually getting a leave vote after all the polls were saying "Remain" would win. This may have kept some supporters of remain at home.

Regardless it's the sudden thought of all the changes that will occur (nearly everybody dislikes big changes to their lifestyle) that is causing all this angst. As it will apparently take up to 2 years to negotiate the terms of leaving the EU, I think the Scottish and Irish politicians are agitating much too soon, and causing more panic.

Everybody should just take a deep breadth and wait for the markets to settle down as they will and stop slagging off at their neighbours who voted different to them. UK is still a democracy isn't it?

AuntJane, we know the figures. None of her friends voted leave at all. Not a single one.

It doesn't change our opinion.

Sorry, pressed send too soon. It would have sounded less curt if I hadn't. Sorry.

I agree that she should not give up so soon and a lot can change, but there is a lot of vitriolic rhetoric coming out of EU headquarters at the moment (Juncker et al). DD was looking at job opportunities in the EU organisation itself, was enthused by it and its possibilities and is now worried that it could be impossible, or at least very much less friendly to British people who apply.

Her Dad (DH) saying that he cast his leave vote in her best interests has therefore gone down like a lead balloon. Diplomacy has never been DH's middle name. He lives with one foot in his mouth and I live my life regularly telling him to take it out.

Happy families!!