It was then announced that hundreds of sixth-formers had been invited, or as the press put it, "drafted in." Was this New Labour trying to regain credibility with young people, and indeed a way of the party trying to manipulate the public by pretending that these guests are its fresh young face? Well, broadly speaking, inviting young people to attend is a positive, and I know through my work with the UK Youth Parliament that other party conferences do the same. However, is this a case not just of more spin, but a new 'youthful spin'?
If Labour really want to be the party of the young, then how about votes at 16? Last week, the Votes at 16 Campaign announced survey results of Members of Youth Parliament across England which has found that nearly three out of four favour a voting age of 16. More than half of the MYPs who responded favoured an age of candidature of 18. The most common reason given for backing a lower voting age was that young people have important things to say and that their voices should be heard. Young people also felt that if a person is old enough to leave school and get married, then they should be old enough to vote in elections.
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