Liberal Democrats - The Party for younger people - Kennedy

4.45.01pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 15th Nov 2005

Charles Kennedy today set out his thoughts on the role of younger people within society

Charles Kennedy today set out his thoughts on the role of younger people within society, and looked ahead to the future direction of politics in Britain in a keynote speech to an audience of young people at the London School of Economics.

Mr. Kennedy's speech was as follows:

Introduction

"I would like to set out for you my thoughts on what the General Election of May said about our society and especially about the role of younger people within that society. I would then like to look ahead at what that means for the future direction of politics in Britain and how we politicians need to change in the way we address issues if we are to draw younger people into the political process."

Younger People and the Election

"Each generation has a significant, and sometimes dramatic, influence over British politics. Take the generation that were teenagers in the 1980s - sometimes described as "Thatcher's children" - and who are now in their 30s. They are changing the politics of this country. And it's not how Mrs Thatcher might have wanted. After the underfunding and division of the Conservative years -this generation, I believe, understands that providing quality public services requires sustainable level of public funding and investment. They also understand that you only get what you pay for.

"Equally this generation recognises that sufficient public spending to deliver first class public services can only be sustained through sound economic management. They expect firmness when it comes to the public finances.

"And for them profit is not a dirty word. They recognise that economic freedom is important for the dynamism and innovation that creates jobs and brings growth and wealth to our society.

"So this generation is liberal - socially and economically.

"It is this generation that now is coming to political prominence. It's these people who have been helping the rising fortunes of the Liberal Democrats too. Indeed, there is a whole bunch of 30 somethings now sitting behind me in the House of Commons - as Liberal Democrat MPs!

"We are easily the youngest of all the major parliamentary parties.

"1 in 5 of our MPs are 40 or under - for Labour that figure is only 1 in 10.

"15% of our MPs are 35 or under - for the Conservatives that figure is just 4%.

"In Jo Swinson, Jenny Willott and Julia Goldsworthy we have the youngest MPs in Scotland, Wales and England - all young women elected to parliament in 2005 as Liberal Democrats.

"This new generation of MPs are bringing to our party, and to the House of Commons, a new perspective - and a new drive and determination. They are ambitious, but not just for themselves and for our party. They are ambitious for Britain.

"But what, I wonder, will become of the generation that could be called 'Blair's children'? How will today's teenagers and twenty-somethings mould the political future of this country?

"Well, we have some early indications. In May, voters aged 18-24 backed the Liberal Democrats in large numbers. According to the pollsters MORI, 26% of this age group voted Liberal Democrat - significantly higher than our national share of the vote, which at 22% delivered for us the largest number of MPs in 80 years.

"But if we look beyond this election and at the next - at the young people who were not able to vote this time - but who will be eligible next time - the Liberal Democrats register dramatic levels of support. In a mock general election conducted in 2,000 schools by the Hansard Society with around 800,000 young people who were not old enough to vote this time, the Liberal Democrats scored a massive 42% of the vote compared with 17% for Labour and 24% for the Conservatives."

Younger People and the Liberal Democrats

"As I have suggested, the natural inclination of the British people has been moving towards liberalism.

"But let's just examine why young people are backing the Liberal Democrats as the natural home of that creed. Part of it is about the way we approach politics. We represent a real chance to make a difference in our politics and society. We represent a change to the status quo; an end to the comfortable two-party system that both Labour and the Conservatives rely on; we threaten directly their arrogance in power. That is attractive to younger people.

"But so is what we stand for - and stand up for - against this increasingly authoritarian Government. Our defence of human rights and fundamental civil liberties; our innate sense of fairness; our commitment to social justice; our environmentalism; our belief in international law and international development.

"We are the natural political party for younger people because we put these principles at the heart of our policy and our message. The Liberal Democrats' win support because of our principled opposition to top up fees and tuition fees and our commitment to a Higher Education system that is accessible to all, not just reserved for those who can afford to pay - or those willing to shoulder an excessive burden of personal debt.

"And we are the only party that takes seriously the very real threat from climate change that is year on year making itself felt in so many different ways. It is my job, leading a political party that puts green issues at the heart of everything we do, to say clearly that climate change isn't a problem that we can just leave for the next generation to deal with, but one

which this political generation - my political generation - must tackle.

"Younger people also saw how we Liberal Democrats - just like many of you did - stood up to the Government over that war in Iraq.

"But it is not only these things.

"We must not bracket a narrow set of issues and pretend that is all young people care about. That is why I set up the Liberal Democrat Youth Taskforce, to develop our thinking across the range of public policy. Issues that affect young people are a thread running through every area of government.

"Younger people care about the future of our national health service, because health care - free at the point of delivery - on the basis of need not on how much you can pay - is your inheritance - and woe betide the politician who seeks to take that away.

"Younger people are the ones who face the violent and anti-social behaviour that we sometimes see on our streets. It is young people who are overwhelmingly the victims of that kind of crime- they want to be able to enjoy a night out without the fear too.

"How about housing? House prices have gone up by almost 150% since Labour came to power - but average earnings across all age groups have gone up by only 40%. And for first time buyers the situation is even worse. The average first time house price has almost trebled since 1997 to £144,000. But the average earnings of a full time worker in their 20s is just £18,500. So how are people supposed to get on the housing ladder? And it is going to get worse when they are saddled with thousands of pounds worth of student debt.

"I believe that one of the most important things that attract young people to the Liberal Democrats is our principled emphasis on fairness. That means fairness in taxation - each paying their fair share based on their means. As an issue of liberal conscience our taxation system must be progressive, fit for the purpose of providing world-class public services and providing for those in need. But we do not need and we should not seek a punitive taxation system. High taxes are not a moral good in themselves.

"But fairness is about more than just money - for Liberal Democrats it means a commitment to social justice too. Fairness is also about access to a decent environment, health services, and education too. For instance - it is absolutely abhorrent to me that in this day and age, in a society supported by the fourth largest economy in the world, that children from poorer backgrounds are still far less likely to get five good GCSE passes than those from richer families. And that gap is wider than it was under the Conservatives.

"Now I say, that shouldn't be - it is not the kind of fair society that I want. That is part of the reason I am so opposed to top-up and tuition fees.

"I was, 25 years ago, fortunate - from a modest income background - to get the opportunity of a full student grant; to emerge from university with a degree; without debt round my neck. And that university opportunity led to every other opportunity that has come my way. There is nothing worse than one generation pulling up the ladder of opportunity behind them and denying the same rights to the next generation.

"I want a Britain in which every one of our children has the opportunities I had growing up - and more besides! A Britain in which ambition and opportunity is not diminished by the circumstances of birth. Real Power, Real Responsibility

"Our commitment, my passion and the Liberal Democrats goal is to energise this generation of young people to make politics relevant to them.

"I think that it should be considered a national disgrace that 40% of 18-24 year olds were not even registered to vote at the election. And depressingly - most of those who were registered didn't bother to actually go and vote.

"But younger people are anything but apathetic. In my experience, they are enthusiastic, well-informed and bursting with opinions. So there is no inherent problem with young people wanting to get involved in politics. It is not that there is a lack of political causes.

"Often it is the system that is putting them off. We can support attempts to improve turn out by making use of technology, and by engaging with people through things like blogs, text messaging and such like. But improving the mechanisms through which people vote and participate in other ways will only do so much good.

"People feel that they don't have much of a political choice anymore;

"That their vote counts for little;

"That nothing much can change.

"What we really need to do, and this is not just about young people, is give people back their democracy.

"Ask yourself - what sort of message did this general election result really send to young people? Imagine as a first time voter waking up on May 6th and looking at the result. You would have every right to feel cheated by a system which returns a majority government on little more than a third of the vote. Well Labour may have won that majority under our unfair electoral system, but they cannot claim any moral mandate from the people.

"Our voting system needs thorough reform. We elect people to the European Parliament under a proportional system. We elect people to the Welsh Assembly, the Scottish Parliament and to the London Assembly under a proportional system. And the next local election is Scotland will be under PR too. It is time that Westminster fell into line. Arguing for proportional representation is about making sure every vote counts. It is about fairness. It is about rebuilding our democracy so that every citizen has a stake - and a say - in our collective future.

"The health of British democracy is another part of the inheritance that my generation will pass on. And I believe that, without voting reform, we will be handing on a system that is less and less relevant to modern life, and the way people think about politics. What we need is a fresh approach producing fresh - and relevant - politics. That is what proportional representation is all about."

Votes at 16

"Part of the reason the Liberal Democrats get support from young people comes from the fact that we seem to be the only party that trusts younger people. We want them to be part of the system - not outside looking in. That's why, for example, we are determined to win the right to vote for 16 and 17 year olds.

"The Prime Minister is keen to tell people that rights and responsibilities go together. The Government is investing millions in citizenship education programmes teaching people up to the age of 16 the importance of playing their part in society and the political process. And yet these same young adults are made to wait another 2 years to have their say by voting. At 16, this Labour Government is quite happy to take your taxes, to let you raise a family, to let you join the army - but not to let you vote.

"Well I say what about that right to vote going with those responsibilities? I say that by 16 people are ready to vote, ready to make their political choice, and ready to take part in choosing who governs them.

"The Electoral Administration Bill currently going through parliament is the perfect opportunity to bring this change about. But I regret that Labour and the Conservatives do not have the foresight - or the courage - to extend the political franchise to young adults at the age of 16 who have so much to offer - and so much to say."

Respect not Neglect

"When it comes to how politicians address issues often it can appear to be a one way street - especially the way this Government talks.

"Get tough on hoodies.

"Punish truancy.

"Crack down on young people hanging out - even if they are committing no crime.

"But what about the other side of the coin? What about addressing the neglect that younger people face? Tony Blair is keen to be seen as being tough on crime. But what he has quickly forgotten since he came to power is that won't work long-term unless he follows through on his promise to be tough on the causes of crime.

"Well its time to end that neglect. The Liberal Democrats are leading the way on the ground already. Here's an example: in Stockport, the Liberal Democrat council has converted empty retail space into community centres where local people of all ages work with health workers, police and schools to create real community spirit. These centres provide a place for youth work, for local groups to get together for social activities and for careers and business advice. Research shows that the number of people in those communities who consider their area to have a good community spirit has gone up by nearly 50%.

"There is a real respect agenda. But it goes far beyond the narrow issues the Government is focusing on. We Liberal Democrats believe respect is a two-way street. If society does not respect its younger people, how can it demand their respect in return?

"So, yes it's about crime and anti-social behaviour. But it's about social exclusion too.

"Young people have to be given the prospect of decent education, training and worthwhile work to look forward to - irrespective of their background. It's about having a proper look at what motivates our young people. It's about job-finding schemes. It's about an emphasis on skills and vocational training in schools as well as academic excellence. It's about young people as part of their communities - and part of wider society. It's about fairness. It's about giving respect in order to receive it. Respecting younger people's choices, and winning their respect in return by giving them the prospect of a future where they can make a living and make a difference."

Conclusion

"The last election showed that the Liberal Democrats are the growing party of choice for young voters. Our goal now is to be the party of choice for those young people who will vote next time. In the next decade the generation that could be described as 'Blair's children' will come to significant political prominence. They will start to make their unique political contribution to Britain.

"It is my determination that the Liberal Democrats will be ready to provide a platform for that contribution. So that through us, this new generation can find its voice. And fulfil its ambitions for Britain."