For immediate release
Rt Hon David Blunkett, MP for Sheffield Brightside, will today address a meeting of students from both of the city’s universities – and will call on them to make their voices heard at the coming General Election.
In a speech and Q&A session with the Politics Societies from the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University, Mr Blunkett will say: “It is critical that young people are involved and engaged – not just for the sake of their own future, but for the well-being of the city of Sheffield as a whole.”
Mr Blunkett’s comments come as a new report from the Hansard Society indicated that people under the age of 35 are the most likely to be “disengaged” from and “mistrusting” of politics.
The Society also found that 56% of 17-24 year olds may not be registered to vote.
Mr Blunkett will call on students and young people to register with the City Council to vote and to head to the polling station when the General Election comes.
He will say: “There are major issues which impact on the lives of students which will be decided over the coming years – not least those relating to future jobs, homes and prosperity. If your voice is silent at election time, then you cannot complain that your voice has gone unheard when these decisions are taken at some point down the line.
“There is, of course, another reason why it is crucial that we have as high a turnout here in Sheffield as possible – and that is the threat of the BNP.
“Young people are among the most tolerant and the most progressive in our community when it comes to reaching out across boundaries and understanding what it is that we hold in common, regardless of race or religion.
“Now more than ever, with all the pressures and difficulties we face as a city and as a country, we need to mobilise that good will and to reject those who seek to divide us. The best way to do that is for as many of us as possible to cast our votes at the election. Every vote really will count.”
ENDS
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