MP's survey finds disaffected youth (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Shipley MP's survey finds disaffected youth
7:55am Friday 2nd July 2010 in News
By Anika Bourley
Shipley MP Philip Davies
Not one 18-year-old in Shipley believes young people are really valued in society, a survey has revealed.
Shipley MP Philip Davies sends a birthday card to every 18-year old in his constituency along with a questionnaire covering issues from politics, to education, security and the country in a bid to engage young people and uncover views on various subjects.
Analysis of the data has shown no respondent strongly agreed that young people were valued in society, nor that cannabis should be legalised.
Most young people in Shipley feel safe on the street, do not want to be more involved with Europe and want Britain to keep the Pound.
Mr Davies said: “I want to show young people I am interested in their views and what they have to say. I ask every single one of them if they want to meet me and I am more than happy to do this and discuss anything they want. It is really important to get their perspective.
“I do it as I want to engage with young voters and the results never are as many would predict. We are concerned young people are turned off Parliament and turned off politics and I think it is important to get young people involved, rather than simply saying it is a problem.”
The survey also showed while more than 77 per cent questioned believed politics impacted on their life, just a quarter said they would like to get involved in politics.
Mr Davies said: “These are the people who were interested enough to send the survey back saying they do not want to get involved. Government and MPs have to do more to engage young people and listen to what they have to say.’’ The students agreed with Mr Davies there was too much political correctness in the world. Nearly all said the NHS was a great asset to the UK.
Comments(8)
andy25
says...
9:23am Fri 2 Jul 10
andy25
says...
9:30am Fri 2 Jul 10
markjoe
says...
10:09am Fri 2 Jul 10
That's probably because most 18-yeas-old in Shipley aren't valued in society, you don't need to a survey to find that out
albion
says...
10:48am Fri 2 Jul 10
andy25 wrote:Have to agree on this occasion, this really is pointless unless figures are produced.
Once again, this time on the second consectutive day, Mr Davis has without good cause managed to get his name in the Press for the aims of his own Political Career!
bredandbuttered
says...
11:32am Fri 2 Jul 10
That gives you 77.7% I believe.
Andraste
says...
11:35am Fri 2 Jul 10
.
Behave like normal, decent, law-abiding citizens, and public opinion will change.
.
Not rocket-science.
birday
says...
7:07am Sat 3 Jul 10
Andraste wrote:Spot on Andraste.
If 18 year-olds behave like sh!ts, then it's pretty obvious no-one's going to value them. . Behave like normal, decent, law-abiding citizens, and public opinion will change. . Not rocket-science.
Too many young people have had everything for nothing and what they want is more and more and more for nothing. In short they've been indulged and spoilt by a society that no longers knows how to grow kids.
They act with invincibility because there have been no penalites or punishments for behaving badly.
Parents have been left unchecked to growtheir kids in what ever way they wish. They'v been allowed to have as many kids as they want regardless of whether they can afford it or not - benefits and credit have been too readily available for too long. Sadly as the recession deepens poverty is going to be a very tough reality for many young people and for those who've been lazy at school it's going to be tough to break out of it.
Graham Barker says...
8:24am Fri 2 Jul 10
This is sloppy journalism. That statement is not supported by any facts here. The report is about only those 18 year-olds who bothered to reply to a questionnaire - so how many of them did reply? We're not told, but based on typical response rates to unsolicited questionnaires I bet the number is very low.
And what does being 'valued in society' mean? If that was the question, it's so vague that it seems pointless to ask it.