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John,

They say if you want to understand the future of British politics, start by looking at the youngest voters.

Voters aged 18–29 have grown up in a digital world — open, fast-moving, and full of noise. But they’re stepping into a political system that still moves at the pace of paper ballots, two-party politics and safe seats that have barely changed in decades.

The latest polling shows how wide that gap has become. Among young voters, the Greens lead on 31%, Reform UK are close behind on 28%, and Labour trail on 15%.
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It’s a snapshot of a generation turning away from the traditional parties, drawn instead to movements that promise to break with the political establishment altogether.

But this isn’t about fickle voting patterns. It’s about a democracy built for another century that hasn’t kept pace with the people it serves.

The internet rewired how we live, work, and organise. It gave everyone a voice, and with it, a sense of agency. Yet our voting system still tells millions of people that those voices don’t count.

A handful of swing seats decide the outcome, while everyone else - and especially younger people - is left watching from the sidelines.

It’s no surprise that frustration finds an outlet in protest parties and extremes. When people feel ignored, they look for someone, anyone, who promises to break the system open.

That’s why Votes at 16 is both exciting and necessary, but also deeply risky.

It’s right that we trust young people with a say in their future. But unless we fix the machinery of democracy itself, we’ll only be showing them, from their very first election, that their voices don’t really matter.

For the most part, young people expect responsiveness, transparency, and honesty. They live in networks, not hierarchies. They know how to organise without waiting for permission. But our institutions still treat politics like a closed shop.

If we want democracy to survive this century, it has to evolve as fast as the society it serves. That means:
* A fair voting system, where everyone’s vote counts and Parliament finally reflects the way the country actually votes.

* Real accountability, so governments can’t forget people between elections or hide behind huge majorities (especially on minority vote shares).

* A more open democracy, with modern ways for people to be heard and take part - not just once every five years.

Our country isn’t short of energy or ideas. What it’s short of is a system capable of hearing them.

Let’s change that, so that frustration and division is no longer the new normal.

All the best,

Conor

Conor McKenzie

Digital Engagement Manager, Open Britain

P.S. If you share our belief that young people deserve a democracy that works for them, please chip in to support our work ([link removed]) . Every contribution helps us grow the movement and campaign for the change Britain needs to make every voice count.
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