This election is a once-in-a-generation chance to reimagine politics as something creative, collective and transformative.
After a decade of miserable austerity, politics has completely failed the UK’s young people. Crippling rents, stagnant wages and rocketing student debt have created a generation who can expect to be worse off than their parents. This Tory government doesn’t care about the epidemic of mental ill health, the families torn apart by their “hostile environment” policy, or the young lives being stolen by knife crime as youth services are slashed. And Boris Johnson’s party are failing on the climate crisis, the most urgent threat to life on Earth – instead pursuing policies that destroy the planet and our health while keeping wealth in the hands of the richest few.
This dismal situation is presented to us as if it’s inevitable and unavoidable – as if there is no alternative to austerity and inequality, overwork and alienation. But this is a lie. There is an alternative – and within the current political framework, we believe that Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party is the UK’s best hope of securing that future. We want a future where everyone can expect lifelong education, safe and affordable housing and free healthcare. A future where we come together to confront the climate emergency. A future where arts and culture are prized not for their economic potential, but because they make our lives rich and vibrant and meaningful.
The Labour manifesto contains multiple pledges that would bring about a future like that. Here are five of the best – Labour will:
There’s a lot more (it’s a good read) and everything in it is both possible and affordable. Imagine voting in a government that believes that real change is possible – and invites young people to be part of that process by lowering the voting age to 16. A government that supports us by introducing free bus travel for under-25s, banning unpaid internships, providing free public broadband, and ending unaffordable rents.
But what this election really represents is a once-in-a-generation chance to reimagine politics as something creative, collective and transformative. Do we want to live in a world where we celebrate difference and interconnectedness – or one where we're divided and alienated from each other? Do we want to build a better life for all, regardless of class, colour, gender or sexuality – or leave it up to a tiny circle of old school chums who have no idea about the lives of ordinary people?
Young people have already been changing the conversation by leading climate strikes, occupying colleges and workplaces and sharing knowledge through social media. Now we have an opportunity to bring about massive, lasting change – but it won’t happen unless we get out and vote. This can’t be stressed enough. Hundreds of thousands of under-35s registered to vote in November, but youth turnout has often been shockingly low.
Let’s change that this Thursday. Make sure you know where your polling station is. Allow enough time in case there’s a queue. Make sure all of your friends have done the same. Then let’s get out there and demand our fucking futures back. A better world is possible. The Tories may have the billionaires and the press on their side – but they don’t have a mass movement. We can win.
As the sorely missed Mark Fisher once wrote, “From a situation in which nothing can happen, suddenly anything is possible again.”
Boiler Room
This election is a once-in-a-generation chance to reimagine politics as something creative, collective and transformative.
After a decade of miserable austerity, politics has completely failed the UK’s young people. Crippling rents, stagnant wages and rocketing student debt have created a generation who can expect to be worse off than their parents. This Tory government doesn’t care about the epidemic of mental ill health, the families torn apart by their “hostile environment” policy, or the young lives being stolen by knife crime as youth services are slashed. And Boris Johnson’s party are failing on the climate crisis, the most urgent threat to life on Earth – instead pursuing policies that destroy the planet and our health while keeping wealth in the hands of the richest few.
This dismal situation is presented to us as if it’s inevitable and unavoidable – as if there is no alternative to austerity and inequality, overwork and alienation. But this is a lie. There is an alternative – and within the current political framework, we believe that Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party is the UK’s best hope of securing that future. We want a future where everyone can expect lifelong education, safe and affordable housing and free healthcare. A future where we come together to confront the climate emergency. A future where arts and culture are prized not for their economic potential, but because they make our lives rich and vibrant and meaningful.
The Labour manifesto contains multiple pledges that would bring about a future like that. Here are five of the best – Labour will:
There’s a lot more (it’s a good read) and everything in it is both possible and affordable. Imagine voting in a government that believes that real change is possible – and invites young people to be part of that process by lowering the voting age to 16. A government that supports us by introducing free bus travel for under-25s, banning unpaid internships, providing free public broadband, and ending unaffordable rents.
But what this election really represents is a once-in-a-generation chance to reimagine politics as something creative, collective and transformative. Do we want to live in a world where we celebrate difference and interconnectedness – or one where we're divided and alienated from each other? Do we want to build a better life for all, regardless of class, colour, gender or sexuality – or leave it up to a tiny circle of old school chums who have no idea about the lives of ordinary people?
Young people have already been changing the conversation by leading climate strikes, occupying colleges and workplaces and sharing knowledge through social media. Now we have an opportunity to bring about massive, lasting change – but it won’t happen unless we get out and vote. This can’t be stressed enough. Hundreds of thousands of under-35s registered to vote in November, but youth turnout has often been shockingly low.
Let’s change that this Thursday. Make sure you know where your polling station is. Allow enough time in case there’s a queue. Make sure all of your friends have done the same. Then let’s get out there and demand our fucking futures back. A better world is possible. The Tories may have the billionaires and the press on their side – but they don’t have a mass movement. We can win.
As the sorely missed Mark Fisher once wrote, “From a situation in which nothing can happen, suddenly anything is possible again.”
Boiler Room
