Total Politics' Executive Editor, Shane Greer, asked me to respond to his piece Student Union by suggesting how I think candidates can engage with students and encourage them to vote after reading my blog response.
I write as the Leeds Pessimist because there is a malaise in British politics in terms of recruitment and communication, particularly regarding younger members. This includes the 18-30 age group, not just students. Voter registration could be changed so that it is linked to individual registration, not residency. If young people move frequently, there is no guarantee a once a year residency registration is sufficient. I wouldn’t go down to the Student Union and give over my details in public place as Shane quotes one suggestion!
Students concerns are multiple, especially when student loans are worth peanuts. How many students will spare the time to canvass or support or just vote for candidates when they are written off as apathetic? They are broke, living in cramped conditions with poor job prospects; that’s enough for any candidate to be concerned about! These concerns continue as young people try to pay off debts and find accommodation close to work. Candidates should be prepared to offer references or welcoming networking events: regular socials in a pub for example or quiz nights. Venues should be easy to locate and accessible by public transport.
The student and young members groups are crucial. Few young member groups are student based, but many overlap each other. With such a lack of younger party members anyway, no-one on the ground makes any distinction. Students can be any age, maybe work, or have children. Shane needs to be more precise with his definitions of age and interests. He is quite right about picking specific students societies and networking which is great for students. (I’m not sure Leeds University has an Officer Training Corp, try People and Planet first!) Send emails or letters to the Youth Officer in each constituency and to the President of each JCR in the local area. These are the people who will know the right person to lead your student recruitment and will help you engage with the relevant local issues.
Engaging with students is really the same as getting them to vote: if they know and like you, they are as likely to vote for you as anyone else! How many elected politicians’ constituents know them well, if at all? Students will, contrary to Shane’s belief, work with their local areas candidates at all levels. In my neck of the woods this year, activists across Yorkshire and the Humber worked across the region on the Euros. West Yorkshire Young Labour is currently co-ordinating with the South Yorkshire branch to maximise canvassing turnout on Super Sundays.
Mobilising should be social as much as work based. Building group friendships and camaraderie will guarantee a personal level of support for any candidate and a long list of contacts and networks for years to come, long after students have left University.
Andy Hicks blogs at Love Your Politics.
Comments
Alex Sobel / November 13 2009 8:08pm
One of the issues is that many full-time 18-21 year old away from home students are not aware of the local electoral considerations.
Good suggestions sounds like some of the stuff I experienced in the Obama campaign especially around Moveon.org
Chris Johnston / November 15 2009 3:08pm
Agree with Andy's sentiments; if you have a significant number of students in your constituency, you'd be daft to ignore their vote.
Another point I'd make is that constituency parties + MPs should see it as their jobs to develop the local youth wings of their parties. I'd wager many politicians (and those employed by parties) were involved in their student days, and that involvement was an enormous influence on their current party involvement. Fail to invest in the next generation of your party at your peril.
Andy Hicks / November 23 2009 7:26pm
Thanks for the comments. I have to agree regards Obama, who completely changed the rules of the game in terms of recruitment and use of the net in general. I do think the future of debate, recruitment, finance and activism lies in his example. Blogs are just the start.
I also agree with the second point about encouraging the Youth wings. When I and a few other party colleagues set up West Yorkshire Young Labour, we had no support or direction (as yet) from the relevant CLP's or regional office, we just learnt as we went along. Yet candidates are out there begging for activists. Something doesn't add up.
That isn't to say individually people didn't help us, many did, particularly one or two, but this isn't how it should be. Many activists, who are mainly older and/or retired know this and wish to help, but again, as individuals, aren't sure where to start.
Andy Hicks / November 25 2009 5:31pm
Thanks for the comments.
Obama has completely changed the game in showing how a recruitment model can be almost entirely internet based. I think fundraising, comment and activism in general will be more and more web based leading up to the next GE and local elections here.
It is curious how the Youth wings are neglected, considering the drop off in membership numbers after University. It is bad enough for student recruitment as it is without letting them go, in effect, when they graduate.
I would suggest there ought to be a merger of University and Youth groups, the numbers demand it. As does reconsidering the relevant age group, it should be 16-30, if not 35.
Andy Hicks