Youthquake was the word used to describe the shock result of the 2017 General Election. Defined by the OED as ‘a significant cultural, political or social change arising from the actions or influence of young people’. The General Election was called on 19th April, 2017 with The Times stating that ‘May heads for election landslide’.
‘The political margins in 2017 were so wide that anything other than a Conservative Majority was unimaginable’ (Tonge et al., 2018). This was due to several factors least of all was Theresa May’s personal approval rating in relation to Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn. Following months of strenuous denials by May that an Election would not be called, the decision to call an election, brought into question her trustworthiness and reliability. There was no real call for this election other than for Theresa May’s desire to ‘strengthen her hand in the Brexit negotiations with the EU’.
The shock result of this dramatic election, confounded almost all commentators. Resulting in Labours opposition party despite ‘losing’, gaining much more than Theresa May’s Conservative Government. There has been much debate in regards to ‘youthquake 2017’, many arguing that this was a myth, generated by much hype, the Labour Party had NOT won the General Election.
What is clear is that the role that youth played in this General Election. ‘Not only did they register in force, but, against all kinds of assumptions of apathy and disinterest, they turned out in droves’ Williamson, 2017. Ipsos MORI data identifies that 62% of 18-24 year olds voted for the Labour party in comparison to 27% for the Conservative party. Government policy for youth since 2010, has offered very little for the sector of the electorate.
Youth were attracted to Corbyn’s opposition to austerity, and welcomed what they believed to be his acceptance of immigration and cultural diversity. Throughout the Election Campaign Corbyn was an effective campaigner, his ideology and informal style were seen as a welcome change, when compared with Theresa May’s awkward ‘Maybot’ public appearances. The General Election of 2017, went a long way towards proving that youth are not apathetic or alienated, and that political campaigns can have huge impact on what is seen as a foregone conclusion.
However, moving on to the present day it must be noted that Labour's new ‘idealist young followers’ will be deeply disillusioned and unforgiving if they believe that Jeremy Corbyn, will not deliver in providing a People's Vote. “Taking a path of deliberate ambiguity in the hope we won’t offend anyone is not the principled stance that the vast majority of Labour’s membership expect from this leadership team'.