·       Liberal Democrats came third with 13% of the vote, followed by Reform UK (10%) and Conservatives (9%)

·       Some 23,000 children cast their ballot in ‘Our Generation. Our Vote.’ election

·       Education, health and climate were ranked as the top three policy areas that influenced voting the most 

·       Photos and b-roll, please contact media@savethechildren.org.uk

LONDON, 28 June 2024 - Some 23,000 young people have cast their vote in a mass-scale election for children across England and Wales, with 32% voting Labour, 29% choosing Green Party and 13% Liberal Democrats. Reform UK received 10% of the vote, followed by Conservatives on 9%. 

In Wales, Labour won 30%, followed by Green Party (22%), Reform UK (14%), Liberal Democrats (10%), Plaid Cymru (9%) and Conservatives (8%).

Across both nations, children cited education (22%) as the policy area that influenced their vote the most, followed by health (18%) and climate and environment (18%). 16% named the cost-of-living and 12% safety. Immigration and refugees held the least sway, on 8%. 

More than 530 schools and youth groups from across England and Wales signed up to ‘Our Generation. Our Vote.’ – a political literacy project which saw under 18-year-olds build their understanding of the democratic process, the different parties and their election manifestos, and local candidates standing in their areas. The project culminated in a mock election aimed at preparing children – particularly those from marginalised communities - to exercise their democratic rights when they reach voting age. 

The initiative, inspired by similar events in Norway, was organised by a coalition of organisations including Save the Children, UK Youth, The Politics Project, the Association for Citizenship Teaching and Girlguiding. As charities, all are party politically neutral. 

Matilda, 14, cast her vote in the ‘Our Generation. Our Vote.’ election at her school in Worcestershire. She said:

“I think politicians overlook young people because we don’t have the vote, so it was exciting to have the opportunity to cast my ballot and have a say, after learning about the different parties. In the past, I’ve heard from my parents about the party they support so it was interesting to learn about what all the other parties are offering in their manifestos this election. It was really educational.”

Aukse, 13, who took part at her youth group in East London, added:

“I have loved taking part in Our Generation. Our Vote and practising what it is like to participate in an election! I think it’s so important to give children a platform as we don’t always get one - and I want adults to listen to what we have to say. I now have a better understanding of what the different political parties stand for and how the voting process works. I feel better prepared for taking part in elections when I turn 18.”

Little Ilford School in Newham, East London, took part in ‘Our Generation. Our Vote’. Saeema Akhtar, Head of Citizenship, said:

“Through Our Generation. Our Vote the students have had a brilliant opportunity to learn all about politics and, ultimately, to cast their vote for candidates in our constituency. 

They’ve been so excited to take part and feel like their voices will be heard – by those making the decisions in Westminster but also the public at large. I’m confident ‘Our Generation. Our Vote.’ will prepare children to make educated and informed political choices once they turn 18.”

A spokesperson for ‘Our Generation. Our Vote.’ said:

“Democracy is the lifeblood of the UK and it’s vital that children across the country feel inspired to play their role as citizens, whatever their background. We’re always striving to give children a platform for their views about the issues that affect them most. The run-up to this election allowed them to speak to politicians and hear first-hand about the policies of the main parties. 

We have no allegiance to any party, but as a coalition, Our Generation. Our Vote is delighted with the support it’s received from schools, teachers, parents and, of course, the children themselves.”

Full details of how children voted, including a regional breakdown of the data, can be found here: https://www.democracyclassroom.com/our-generation-our-vote-results

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS: 

For further information please contact: Save the Children Media Office +44(0)7831 650409, media@savethechildren.org.uk

About Our Generation. Our Vote.: 

‘Our Generation. Our Vote.’ is a political literacy project which aims to build children’s understanding of politics and democracy. Run by a coalition of organisations across the youth, democracy and education sectors, the project culminated in a mass-scale election, whereby under 18-year-olds in England and Wales got the opportunity to cast their vote for candidates standing in their constituencies, with results announced on Friday 28^th June

Our Generation. Our Vote. coalition members:

ACT (Association for Citizenship Teaching), Boys' and Girls' Clubs of Wales, Children’s Commissioner for Wales, First News, Girlguiding, I Have A Voice, London Borough of Newham Youth Empowerment Service, London Youth, My Life My Say, National Children’s Bureau, Platform4YP, RECLAIM Project, Save the Children, Shout Out UK, Sky FYI, First News, Teach the Future, The British Youth Council, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, The Politics Project, The Politics School, UK Youth, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, VotesforSchools, Young Citizens  

Results Information

·       22,889 children cast their vote in the ‘Our Generation. Our Vote.’ election before polls closed at 5pm on Friday 21^st June.

·       The results do not represent a nationwide poll: they derive from the 112 schools and youth groups who submitted voting data.

·       Full details of how children voted, including a regional breakdown of the data, can be found here

·       The results data was collected and analysed by VotesforSchools, an innovative voting platform that captures and publicises youth voices. VotesforSchools empowers young people to be informed, curious and opinionated on current affairs, by exploring topics through informed debate.