Tomorrow, on Thursday 6 May, thousands will flock to polling stations across the country to vote in this year’s elections. For Hartlepool in particular, this is a momentous occasion. Spurred by the resignation of former Labour MP, Mike Hill, after sexual offence allegations were brought forward, Hartlepool is now a marginal seat; a crucial and undecided battle between the Labour and Conservative parties will ignite tomorrow in a bid to win what has been a Labour stronghold for decades.
Speaking with the young people of Hartlepool, many have concerns about the future of this town and whether its Labour stronghold will stand or succumb to the Conservative Party. After 57 years of Labour rule, the prospects of a Conservative MP in Hartlepool has certainly rallied increased interest from local and national politicians, with both Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer visiting the town on numerous occasions in recent months.
Are Young People Actually Being Targeted?
Young people are generally neglected by politicians and candidates during political campaigns, with an increase in voter apathy discouraging successful political engagement and voter turnout. A disturbing lack of political representation in local councils is another contributing factor to such apathetic concern, with the national census of local authority councillors suggesting 45% of councillors are retired, with only 15% of staff under the age of 45 – not to mention the almost non-existent youth voices in power.
The youth of today consume their news online: social media now rivals print media, with local canvassing generally lacking the impact and engagement it aims to achieve. Speaking with home carer, Rebecca Blair, she identified concerns with print canvassing and its failure to engage young voters: “There has been a lot of information. I’ve received a lot through the post; maybe too much…I’ve also received the same leaflet numerous times.”
“I don’t think the information has been given out effectively at all”
Over-canvassing – now this is a problem. Without new and engaging information to tackle the confusion and lack of education that many youngsters unfortunately succumb to, they simply do not vote. With minds constantly wired and the average post surfing time resting at just two seconds, they simply do not vote.
“I don’t think the information has been given out effectively at all,” Blair continued. With sporadic canvassing days and a repetition of simple and unengaging material, dullness sets in and fails to offer young people an incentive to cast their vote.
Is This A Two-Party Race?
For 57 years, Hartlepool has been a Labour strong-hold – in short, there has been no competition…until this year. In 2017, Labour leader, Mike Hill, led with an astonishing 21,969 votes in comparison to the Conservative’s 14,319. In 2019, however, political alliances began to tremble and the prospect of another party taking the lead became questionable. Whilst Mike Hill led with 15,464 votes, the Conservative Party was not too far behind with 11,869, and The Brexit Party with 10,603. These results demonstrate that, in recent years, Hartlepool has welcomed new competitors; competitors that have the drive and support from locals to take the lead.
“Their vote can, and will, shape the future of Britain”
Speaking with Jacob Dobson, a 21-year-old from Hartlepool, he said: “I have received plenty of information by post from the Conservatives and Labour. However, I have received no other information by post from any other party.”
With less than 24 hours to go until this eagerly-anticipated by-election, the lack of canvassing by parties other than the Conservatives and Labour is concerning. The young people of Hartlepool have not been recognised as citizens of the future: their vote can, and will, shape the future of Britain and is lacking support from political parties and politicians. Politicians are failing to establish a relationship with young people and are subsequently sabotaging their influence over a generation whose opinions do matter.
“We aren’t given any information about anything”
Speaking with the young people of my town, many recognise the lack of engagement of their local MP and are reluctant to make an informed decision about “things that do not really affect us.”
“I just feel like we aren’t given any information about anything,” said Anna Cross, a hospital receptionist. Despite graduating with a degree from The University of Sunderland, her political knowledge is practically non-existent.
Mathew Mason, a politics student at the University of Huddersfield, said: “From a personal point of view, I often forget about local elections and haven’t yet voted in them unlike a national general election.”
Have Labour Finally Lost Their Hold On Hartlepool After 57 Years?
Over recent years, Labour’s stronghold in this town has certainly waivered, and since Hartlepool’s last elections in 2019, they have lost a significant amount of support.
Speaking with Chance Raine, a university student, he said: “People have so little trust in the Labour Party and it has become quite middle class, so the normal working class have resorted to voting Conservative because they don’t believe that the current Labour Party is representative of them.”
“People don’t see much of a difference between voting Labour and voting Conservative”
“A lot would say that Keir Starmer lies fairly in the middle of the political spectrum despite being the Labour leader, so people don’t see much of a difference between voting Labour and voting Conservative,” he added.
Does this demonstrate the impact national politics – and essentially, political leaders – have on local elections and constituents’ psychology when voting?
Why Are Young People Not Engaged?
UK politics, for those without any prior knowledge, is rather like a wormhole. Our First Past The Post System, whilst seemingly simple in theory and principle, is fairly difficult to understand in practice. Without providing Britain’s youth with the education they need to make informed and honest decisions about the future of their country, their engagement will be low and their responses will be disinterested.
Speaking with Rebecca Blair about a possible solution to this problem, she said: “I would say talking about it more at college and university, but the most effective way to get young people to engage is to offer them something they want.”
This is where a vicious circle transpires: politicians do not provide incentives for young people to vote; youngsters in turn do not feel appreciated and heard; this then turns into a lack of political engagement. And so the cycle begins again. British politics lacks a varied and diversified relationship with its citizens and, without this connection, politics cannot and will not be respected and engaged with by all.
Who Is Expected To Win?
In a poll administered by Survation for ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Conservative candidate, Jill Mortimer, is expected to take a 17 point lead with 50% of the votes in comparison to Labour candidate, Dr. Paul Williams, who is only expected to get 33%. What the final result will be is yet to be confirmed, but what we can be certain that tomorrow will be a day to remember.
Candidates standing in this by-election include:
- Jill Mortimer – Conservative
- Dr. Paul Williams – Labour
- David Bettney – Social Democratic Party
- Nick the Incredible Flying Brick – The Monster Raving Loony Party
- Hilton Dawson – North East Party
- Rachel Featherstone – Green Party
- Adam Gaines – Independent
- Andy Hagon – Liberal Democrats
- Steve Jack – Freedom Alliance
- Chriss Killick – Independent
- Samantha Lee – Independent
- Gemma Evans – Women’s Equality Party
- Claire Martin – Heritage
- John Prescott – Reform UK
- W. Ralph Ward-Jackson – Independent
- Thelma Walker – Independent
Madeleine Raine
Featured image courtesy of Jennifer Griffin on Unsplash. This image has in no way been altered. Image license is available here.
Madeleine Raine
Mads is a 23-year-old History graduate from Newcastle University. She is passionate about current affairs and British news, with a keen interest in investigative features. Aside from this, she is an avid reader, photographer, and yogi.