to tell people that the Conservative party are only really popular amongst older voters

[chomalungma]

The headline figure is 40% support for the Conservatives. But that hides a real truth - support is low amongst younger people and higher amongst older people.

And older people are more likely to vote.

This is from You Gov - it's based on 11,500 people - so a much bigger survey - and more reliable.

yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2019/10/31/2019-general-election-demographics-dividing-britai

So basically, if you want to get rid of the Conservatives, get younger people out to vote.

Yeah but older people vote

True - apparently there are 9.4 million people missing from the electoral register - especially younger people, renters etc....that's not good for democracy.

But there has been a surge in people registering to vote

www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/31/surge-young-people-registering-to-vote-general-election

Better in my opinion - because of the fairness of it all
You can be fair to some of the people all of the time, or all of the people some of the time.
I think trying to be 'fair to all people, all of the time' is an idealistic but impossible goal. A bit like communism.

Brexit has changed our perception of politics, maybe once it has been resolved we will go back to a semblance of normality. Or maybe not, lets see, now is not the time for massive upheaval.

Over 65, never voted Tory, not planning to start anytime soon

It's always been the case that people vote Conservative when they grow up.

That’s not true of me, Red Dragon. Nor of my 50-year-old friend who was a Yuppie in the 80s and now works with the homeless. Nor of a primary school teacher I knew, who came from a very privileged, traditional Conservative family, but by her late thirties could no longer bring herself to vote Tory. Nor of the war veteran and Socialist campaigner who was well-known where I live and was still campaigning at the age of 101. There are plenty of people out there who don’t conform to that stereotype.

Blimey OP, WHAT a revelation!! Who knew?!! Mind........Blown.

I'm 26 and vote Tory - Corbyn being PM terrifies me

My son's school did a mock GE last time and the students voted a majority for Tory, so no, it's not a certainty that the young will vote Labour, especially with Corbyn as their leader.

We had one in 1974 when I was in junior school. There was one Liberal vote (me - for myself). Every one else voted Tory. Including the Labour "candidate"!

There are plenty of people out there who don’t conform to that stereotype

Yes, like the many young who aren't lefties and wouldn't vote Labour.

If a man is not a socialist by the time he is 20, he has no heart. If he is not a conservative by the time he is 40, he has no brain

Fuck that tired old reactionary bollocks. I have a very good brain, am well over forty and will NEVER vote Tory even if I live to be 100.

I've been a Conservative voter since my teens. Am old now and still voting for them. Can't wait to see the disappointed faces of the Labour youth when Corbyn gets in and they don't get their student loans paid off, don't all earn £15 an hour, don't get a four day week for the pay of five etc etc etc

Fishcakey, presumably you’re from the generation who didn’t have to pay university tuition fees? And who had access to student grants to help with living expenses?

But, yes, let’s give the younger generation another kicking. They deserve it!

...yes yes...and your point is?

@Cattenberg I am indeed. I don't agree with tuition fees actually but if people really think Labour can come up with the cash to pay all this back they really are stupid! I'm not kicking them, I'm being realistic. I appreciate how very lucky I was to get my degree without getting into debt and I do feel for today's students.

I don’t know exactly how this country could give today’s young people the opportunities that some previous generations enjoyed. We should be able to afford to, but apparently we can’t.

I do know, however, that the Tories aren’t even trying. A few years ago, my Tory MP played a key role in abolishing maintenance grants for the poorest students. Before, that the coalition tripled tuition fees.

Other countries manage it fishcakey, I don't see why the UK couldn't. Particularly as they've just spunked, for instance, 100 million quid on pointless Brexit propaganda.

I don’t know exactly how this country could give today’s young people the opportunities that some previous generations enjoyed. Remember though that it was only some of the previous generation - fewer than 10% went to uni. And even education costs were less because the proportion going to 6th form was lower. Basically they opened unis to more people at the expense of supporting those that went, of alternative education opportunities for those who didn't go, and any sort of ability to have a second chance if you mess up in your teenage years. Result seems to be that basic office jobs which used to be open to those with GCSEs are now being filled by graduates - the whole thing is a mess.

I don't see why the UK couldn't. This is probably part of the reason they may not to be able to: Particularly as they've just spunked, for instance, 100 million quid on pointless Brexit propaganda.

don’t see any point in working that hard if there’s no personal gain

And yet when a poorer person or a SAHM says the same on here they get the "but what about working for your self esteem" replies.

I did that survey - love You Gov as you often see results of the things you are involved in the media (completely misses the point of the thread).
I think a lot of some older people I know are sticking with Conservatives because they have ALWAYS voted Tory and would never vote Labour - not sure about those Greens and Lib Dems are seen as too wishy washy.
There actually was an option on that survey for don't know anymore and if you ticked that, it asked if you had to choose who would you pick. I wonder if you have stuck with ' seriously I really don't bloody know any more' how many would have chosen that.

I grew up in the days of free university places and maintenance grants for all. But in the year I left school only 8 % of the population went to university. In my friend ship group only one boy went to university. He studied a stem subject and went on to have a high flying career.
Everyone else either went into a trade or those who didn’t do well in school ended up on a yts scheme.

I had Passed the 11 plus but couldn’t take up a place in a grammar school as my parent couldn’t afford the cost of sending me ( bus fares and the higher cost of uniform). I still did well at my local comp but university was just not something that was considered. It was something only the very bright or more middle class did. I was offered either a place at my local college or a different course at a local poly. I ended up in the college as they offered the course I wanted.

Now just under 50% of school of young adults go. The range of subjects is 100 times wider and all the old polys no longer exist and are now universities even though a lot of them are no seen as good.

I think the old system was much better.