The kids are all right
With new laws passed in 2006 to allow those under 21 to become MPs it was time to investigate whether the youngsters were taking advantage of their new found political engagement.
By Sam Dale
I remember when I was 18 with £500 in the bank, I couldn’t wait to blow it on the latest gadget or squander it by celebrating my newly legal drinking status.
Not so for Luke Wilshire, who turned 18 at the end of March, and has just paid the £500 deposit to run for parliament as an independent in Erewash.
He is also a full-time student so he must be serious about getting his money back and serious about his candidacy.
“I’m in it to win it,” he states. “But it would be a great achievement to get my deposit back (with five per cent of the vote) and beat the BNP, who I hate with a passion.”
And Luke says he has had a positive response while campaigning on the doorstep and people have taken him seriously despite his age.
“I’ve raised £1000 through a Facebook campaign with my friends and the other day I saw a car with my poster in it, you get a real buzz from that,” he explains.
“My parents are really supportive and all my family are going to vote for me. If I can’t get them to vote for me then I’ve not got much chance!”
Luke can only run because of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 which lowered the age one could run for parliament by three years to 18. This election has, therefore, opened doors that were previously closed to youthful candidates.
Running as an independent poses its challenges; financially, and without the backing of a party machine, but being nominated by a serious political party is perhaps even more daunting.
With a real chance of winning, there is more expectation and prospective MPs must toe the party line at a tender age.
Emily Benn, grand-daughter of veteran socialist Tony and niece of cabinet minister Hilary, was selected by East Worthing and Shoreham Labour party aged 17, two and half years ago.
On election day she will be 20 and has been regularly commuting from Oxford University, where she is a student.
She admits the campaign has been tiring as since her selection she has spent at least two days a week in the constituency, alongside her studies, and during the election she is there all week.
With sitting Conservative MP Tim Loughton sitting on an 8,000 majority, Ms Benn isn’t particularly coy about her chances, stating, “you can see the figures”.
But the history and politics student says her youth has not been an issue when she has met voters and she wants to run a positive campaign.
“People care about the substance and they’re focused on hospitals and schools. I’ve had the odd comment about my age but really people aren’t concerned,” she says.
“I think it would be crazy if you could vote yet couldn’t run for election, that wouldn’t make sense.”
And she is bullish about her youth being questioned recounting her achievements.
“I was selected by the constituency party, I beat six candidates, it’s their decision.”
Despite her clear political passion she is not certain to pursue a career in politics and not sure to run next time.
“If I don’t win there are lots of things I want to do outside of politics. I wouldn’t stand again here.”
After a gruelling period, Ms Benn gives no illusions about the challenges facing young people who want to run for office.
“It’s been tough, I’ve been travelling up from Oxford at least a couple of days a week and now I’m here full time, I’ve got an office and a base here but it’s tiring.”
But she added: “If you’re passionate about what you believe in there should be no reason why people couldn’t run.”
The Liberal Democrats certainly have a very passionate and idealistic youngster who has also been feeling the strain of campaigning.
Alan Belmore, 20, running in Hemsworth against Gordon Brown’s parliamentary secretary Jon Tricket, has been “incredibly busy”.
The history and economics student is campaigning “90% of the time” and doesn’t think his age has been a big issue.
“People don’t question my age but ask if I have enough experience, which is a valid question.
“Obviously I don’t have the same life experience as my candidates but I do have some and I am fresh and radical and I think people want that,” said the Lib Dem candidate.
“Jon Tricket has referred to my age in a hustings when he called me a ‘public school boy’ but that is the only time it’s been raised.
“When arguing about climate change I could connect with school children by arguing that my fellow candidates won’t be here in 50 years when the impact comes.”
Not to be outdone in the youth stakes the Conservatives have also found a tyro with Nick Varley standing in the City of Durham after being selected at the precocious age of 19.
A law student, Nick says he is not a “typical Tory” and believes he has a serious chance of becoming an MP.
He has been getting stuck into the campaign, accusing the Lib Dem candidate of “lying” by saying Nick is from Hull when he lives in Durham.
It’s been an election of firsts, with TV debates, high poll ratings for the Lib Dems, and social networking sites. Who’s to say we won’t soon have our first ever MP under the age of 21?
