Half of teenagers aged 13 to 17 are uncertain about which party to support or whether they will vote in the next general election, according to a new survey by the Children’s Commissioner for England. The findings come as the Labour government prepares to lower the voting age to 16 for the next election, currently scheduled for 2029.
The survey, part of Dame Rachel de Souza’s Big Future report launched at the Festival of Childhood in Manchester, reveals that 28% of children polled do not know which party they would vote for, and 20% are unsure if they will vote at all. A further 11% said they would not vote, while another 11% indicated they would vote Labour.
Reform was the second most popular party at 9%, followed by the Green Party at 8%. The report also found that nine in ten young people worry about the future, with concerns including getting a good job, having enough money, doing well in school, and war and conflict.
Dame Rachel de Souza said: “For the first time, hundreds of thousands of children will be eligible to vote in the next general election at 16 – but my polling shows teenagers are uncertain about voting. We are making the biggest change to the franchise in 50 years, at a time when many are asking if childhood today is as good as it was for generations past.”
The commissioner urged politicians to engage with children through school visits and community events, adding: “How we respond to children’s challenges will define what it means to grow up in England and shape how a generation engages in democracy for years to come.”
