In the news

'New Voters Like Politics, Not Politicians' Politics.co.uk, 15 September 2011
First-time voters are interested in politics but less than one in five have a positive view of political parties, according to new research. A poll of young people by Nottingham Trent University academics found two-thirds viewed past and present governments as dishonest and untrustworthy. Eighty-one per cent had a negative view of political parties and MPs, but this did not reflect a broader disengagement with politics. 63% said they were interested in political matters and would consider voting in future general elections...

'Vast Majority of Young People Distrust Politicians' Children and Young People Now, 15 September 2011
Young People and Politics in Britain, a study conducted by Professor Matt Henn and Nick Foard, aimed to investigate why less than half of young people (44%) voted in last year's general election. It involved surveying 18-year-olds who had been eligible to vote for the first time. The study revealed that just 17% of participants felt positively about political parties and MPs, while the vast majority (81%) held a negative view...

'Engaging the next generation' The Guardian, 19 November 2011.
New research from Nottingham Trent University suggests that it's politicians themselves who are the problem. According to the study, fewer than one in five young people have a positive view of political parties and two-thirds see past and present governments as dishonest. Professor Matt Henn, who led the research, says that young people have a "pretty sophisticated set of views on political issues", with higher education and youth employment topping their list of concerns. "What our survey reveals very clearly is there's support among young people for the general notion of democracy but a deep unhappiness and distrust of politicians," he says. "Young people don't feel their concerns are being adequately represented and championed by the political parties. They feel that the parties are treating them cynically as voting fodder"...

Most young people 'don't trust' politicians or parties , by Dave Howard, Newsbeat politics reporter -  BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat – 9 July 2012.  Newsbeat reports on the latest research from Professor Matt Henn and Nick Foard at Nottingham Trent University, indicating that it is politicians themselves that turn younger people off politics. NTU's findings formed the basis of much of the rest of our week. We also meet Michael, Nicola and Kae for the first time. They are Newsbeat's 'listener panel' of 3 angry young voters – who all told us via social networks that they are angry about politicians' behaviour. An audio version of this article is available on Audioboo.

Voting should be allowed at 16, say youth campaigners , by Rick Kelsey, Newsbeat politics reporter - BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat – 10 July 2012. Newsbeat discusses the long-running arguments for and against reducing the voting age to 16, with Rhammel Afflick from the British Youth Council, and a group of Sixth Formers from Essex. An audio version of this article is available on Audioboo.

Newsbeat listeners v MPs on why many young don't vote , by Dave Howard, Newsbeat politics reporter - BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat – 12 July 2012. Research from Nottingham Trent University suggests almost two thirds of 18-year-olds have little trust in politicians. Three quarters of those surveyed also said political parties didn't keep promises once they were elected

Parliament 'referee' says it's a pity MPs don't behave , by Dave Howard, Newsbeat politics reporter - BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat – 13 July 2012. Newsbeat's listener panel meet Commons Speaker John Bercow. He agrees with them that it's "a pity" MPs don't behave better in Parliament. There is also a robust exchange about politicians setting a bad example, ie. by fiddling their expenses, drinking to excess and brawling. An audio version of this article is available on Audioboo.

MPs tell young people to 'show up' for decision making , by Dave Howard, Newsbeat politics reporter - BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat – 12 July 2012. Newsbeat's 3 listeners go head-to-head with prominent MPs from each of the 3 main parties at Westminster – Louise Mensch from the Conservatives, Labour's Shadow Children's Secretary Lisa Nandy, and Lib Dem President Tim Farron. An audio version of this article is available on Audioboo.