In an National Union of Students poll of nearly 2,000 further and higher education students, only 12% agree that politicians value young people’s views – it has been announced.
The news comes just hours before the deadline to register to vote in June’s general election, with people having up until 11:59pm tonight to sign up.
Current NUS President Malia Bouattia said it is ‘imperative’ that students who are yet to register sign up today.
She said: “Students and young people must take an active role in shaping our own futures and this election plays an integral role in starting to do just that.
“NUS and students’ unions have been working hard to get students back onto the electoral register so they can get their voices heard at the ballot box this June.
“Political parties and parliamentary candidates must now make sure their policies speak to young people. They must promise us a future of opportunity – not more of the same.”
The survey also found that 83% of registered students plan on voting on June 8, and of the 8% who don’t plan to vote, being undecided on who to vote for (43%) and politicians not keeping their promises (34%) were cited as their main reasons for not going to the booth.
When asked by NUS to rate their most important issues, 57% said the NHS. This was then followed by the cost of living (31%), education (30%) and Brexit (26%).
In the run-up to tonight’s deadline, the NUS launched their voter registration drive #GenerationVote, which saw the organisation encourage students to join the electoral register.
More information about #GenerationVote can be found on the NUS Connect website. Students interested in registering to vote can do so at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.