Editorials

#YEAR11PROBLEMS

27 June 2016

By Lauren E. White

Young people and the Opposition

As pretty much everyone is aware, the UK voted to leave the European Union and the Prime Minister David Cameron resigned. It marks a brand new period in British history and one that is wholly dissimilar to anything we’ve had before. So, being a young person in the wake of this new UK is worrying, and as a result, we naturally look for someone or something to believe in.

It is not unusual to feel disengaged with the Conservative Party or to disagree with what they deliver to this country. I know many people who don’t believe in their ideology. However, I also know many people who might believe in the Labour Party’s philosophy, but not in its leader Jeremy Corbyn.

At a pivotal point in history, we need a credible leader to believe in. With David Cameron resigning and the strong possibility that Boris Johnson the buffoon could be his replacement, it appears that there is no credible leadership of both the Conservative Party and the Labour Party. Consequently, there is nobody to believe in for young people and so we risk further political oblivion and increasing numbers of those disengaged with politics.

Jeremy Corbyn was, admittedly, elected on an unprecedented mandate. However, far too many MPs do not support him. In addition, it is clear that he does not have the support of those in the Labour heartlands in the light of the referendum results. The questions surrounding his leadership will not go away and he cannot simply paint over the cracks in the wall now.

If we don’t want another Conservative government or a hung Parliament in 2020 (or sooner if a General Election is held), then Jeremy Corbyn must go. He is a principled man and I think everyone understands that. But he is not a leader. He does not engage with the core Labour voters and as young people, it means we have less to believe in.

See you next week.

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