To think the tide may be turning...

[Goldenhandshake]

Apparently under twenty fives have been registering to vote in high numbers, assuming because lots of Tory policies have hit this age group negatively. AIBU to feel optimistic that they will turn out to vote and possibly prove the poll predictions wrong?

Any under 25's here who have registered with this intention?

Haha glad I'm not alone

I cannot stomach Sturgeon so I was surprised, but I guess living here, I have gone on face value (her face) without looking into the SNP's policies. It's made me think though. I am definitely left of centre it seems. Means, I have a few more options than most fortunately/unfortunately

@ketchupandbeans - I wasn't at pains to point out my background any more than you were. Funny how my doing so was something to have a jibe at.

@SuburbanRhonda

Thinking that 16 year olds shouldn't have the vote is not prejudiced. It's sensible. You may let yours smoke, drink, drive and try for a baby, but I am realistic and have realistic ideas about maturity and when people can have a vote and trust me, children are not included in that group. HTH

mirime I'd be interested to know whether that would sway you to vote Green?

Quite a few people did in the US, incidentally, including my mum, as an anti-Clinton but not proTrump move. they now identify Greens as the true left wing choice.

But you could also suppose 16 year olds are irresponsible because they have no reason to be responsible. Childhood is unnaturally extended, is it surprising they still behave childishly?

Oh Devorak for goodness' sake, I was not having a go: I have told you exactly why I mentioned mine . You yourself brought your background up and said it was 'lucky'. I have no issue with your background. You made the pint of brining it up yourself - so you made it relevant. You can't now say I should disregard your own posting. If you could identify where I 'jibe' at your background , I'd be grateful.

You also said in your second post that your only issue was Brexit and have now added the NHS.

I wonder devorak if I had not added the paragraph about my upbringing, whether you would have taken on board anything I said elsewhere. You seem to find one thing someone says and latch onto it.

To summarise : I believe I vote altruistically ; so do you. Fine.

And, yes, your dictionary definition was deliberately selective. It's the OED definition via Google and edited to exclude the first definition which, whilst not entirely negative, defines 'bullish' as 'aggressively confident'. I can see why you didn't give that definition , although it does sum up your tone.

You yourself also mentioned that your first votes (at 18) were naïve. And that you matured and changed . I've always voted the same but everyone is different.And evolves/ changes perspective/ values as one ages.

So, 16 / 18 what's the big difference if, either way, your first vote is not fully to be trusted?

Some 16 year olds do the things you describe; many many don't. I am actually offended on their behalf!

Come to think it , 18 - when we are all entitle to vote- is when it is MORE likely that young people will be doing the things you disapprove of , for want of a better expression...

Makes me laugh when someone says they dont use the NHS. If they are in an RTA who is going to come out and treat them and pick them up and take them to what will be an NHS hospital.

BUPA?

Me too HelenaDove. Who the hell does the referral then if not your NHS GP.?
Not to mention the patients who are transferred to local A and E from the private hospitals when they've cocked it up. In the UK the emergency care provided by the NHS is factored into private healthcare business models.

Been thinking about teenagers and the votes. I think it's sad that so many teenagers (whether 16 or 18) are painted as idle , brainless ne'er do wells at worst and, at best, green, naïve and too immature to know any better.

I know so many passionate, articulate and - actually highly informed- 16 , 17 and 18 year olds. they know more than most 40 year olds (perhaps the internet generation) and can debate it articulately. Sure, they focus on different issues : but then I'd expect an octogenarian to be concerned about healthcare, inheritance tax and pensions more, too.

A huge swathe of teenagers deserve the right to vote more than many 30, 40, 50 ,60 etc year olds arguably do! Wherever their beliefs lie, (yes, it is true more of them may be inclined to the left and that's why right leaning parties want to prevent a debate about young people and the vote : surveys show we nearly all wander to the right of our original position as we age.. as is shown with Corbyn!)

It really came home to me when I took a poll today that asked, 'who would you like to be the next Prime Minister' and gave a choice between May and Corbyn! Bloody hell! (I'd still prefer Corbyn - and that's saying something).

ILikeBeansWithKetchup Actually, as I already posted:

Gen Z (those born mid 90s - early 2000s) are the most conservative generation since the Second World War, so I wouldn't be hoping for under 25s to come out and not vote Tory.

I agree with you Beans, all four of mine were politically aware at sixteen and would have voted sensibly. Funnily enough, they haven't changed as they've got older, although one will give up his Lib Dem vote this election to vote Labour, whilst another is giving up his Green vote to vote Lib Dem. The other two weren't old enough to vote in the last general election, but will be this time around, their opinion hasn't changed.

I think the most important issue is the NHS. If the Tories get in again the NHS is finished. I have family in Bath, Somerset and the NHS there is now privatised and run by Virgin Health Care.

I got SNP when I did that quiz too!

Question: anyone here supporting the Women's Equality Party?

We have a candidate for the Woman's Equality Party in the neighboring Ward. ( local Tory bit of a misogynist) trouble is they have been parachuted in from London. Local women's groups a bit

Spread ,yes, I saw that and was going to agree at the time but someone hijacked the thread. I agree many are conservative with a small c but they don't identify with the Conservative Party. I have at various points said that I think OP is getting her hopes up if she thinks they are all Labour voters.

That'll be the remowners voting labour then 🙄

I'm not even sure why giving the vote to 16 year olds is given traction other than an assumption that they will all lean left, it was the same after the last GE when, the assumption that the huge swathes that didn't vote was all left wing

There is, as has been posted, polls that a significant proportion of the young are actually Conservative, not only by voting intentions but as the counter culture, there is already massive voter apathy in the 18-24 age bracket, maybe if everyone tries to get them out to vote it would help.

It's also not a far out theory that the younger think in black and white/good v evil terminology, I wouldn't want my DC to be voting at age 16 when the terminology is already "Evil/Heartless Tories" and its not meant as a personal dig DawnDonna but I am sure you wouldn't think your children where voting sensibly if they decided they wanted to back Conservative

I remember Charlotte Church being interviewed as a v young adult and she said st along the lines of "you won't BELIEVE how much the government takes in tax!" about her income from singing..well the audience laughed as did Graham Norton (I think it was him!). A natural Tory thought I! But no she seems to have got over the horrors of taxation to become left wing.

Gen Z (those born mid 90s - early 2000s) are the most conservative generation since the Second World War, so I wouldn't be hoping for under 25s to come out and not vote Tory.

Do you have a link to the research that backs up that claim? Genuinely interested, as the teenagers and young people I know through my DC don't fit that profile at all.

But, as I said, people often change and modify their views with age and contextual factors. This is surely OK.

As I said, many many teenagers I know are very well informed they know more than me

You may let yours smoke, drink, drive and try for a baby

What the fuck are you going on about, devorak?

I know quite a few young people who will be voting. They are all voting Tory.