Politics is not usually something that most children and young people enjoy, or even understand. But Alastair Campbell is on a mission to change that.
Campbell, who was a spokesman for former Prime Minister Tony Blair in the late 1990s and early 2000s, believes young people have become so disengaged from politics that the future of democracy could be at risk.
He says: “I worry that the cynicism about politics is so deep that unless we challenge it, I think we have a problem with the future of democracy, I really do. We have a very cynical and apathetic electorate that is turning away from politics and unless we reverse that trend with the younger generations, I think democracy is in danger.
I would also support compulsory voting and believe there should be proper political education in all schools, including primary schools.
Alastair Campbell
“The key to this is political education: that people take politics more seriously, understand why it is important and that younger people understand that it can be a lot of fun.”
Campbell, 67, is aware that persuading children and young people that politics is fun could be a tough nut to crack, but he is using his exceptional political knowledge to convince them in his two new books, Why Politics Matters, aimed at Elementary school. older children, and Alastair Campbell Talks Politics, for older children and young adults.
The publication of both books has been brought forward so that they are available before the General Election.
But how can you make a book about politics fun and interesting to a child?
Speaking from France, where he says he has been “dragged into the election,” Campbell explains: “First of all, I am not talking down to you. I hope the interesting thing I've made about the book for teens is that it's all based on questions and answers: what is politics, why should we care about politics, what skills do you need to be a politician? I have tried to make it very clear, very simple.”
But although the books are aimed at children and young people, Campbell suspects that adults could gain interesting political insights from reading them as well.
“When it was first announced,” he recalls, “I got a message from a long-time Labor MP who said: 'I've read that you've written another book and this one is going to explain how politics and Parliament work. It works, can you send it to me because I still have no idea?
“I think adults will read it. I've made it very neutral – there's no 'Labour vote' in it, it's very politically neutral. But I hope parents think that kids need to know about politics, and maybe this will help them.”
He believes that an important way to involve children and young people in politics is to help them understand how it relates to them and their everyday lives.
“I've been to dozens and dozens of schools over the years, and my sense is that they engage appropriately when you can explain to them how this relates to their lives,” he says.
He uses the example of the recent teachers' strike to illustrate his point: he says that when he asks them about it, children often have strong opinions about the strike, which will spark a debate. “And then the next time one of them says he's not interested in politics, I'll say, 'Were you interested in the debate about your teachers' strike?' Because that's politics.'
“That's how I try to make it relevant.”
He continues: “They ask some interesting questions; one that really stumped me today was: 'Which person in the entire world would you like to sit down with right now and talk politics?' I was probably too influenced by the fact that they were young, but I ended up saying Taylor Swift, because I want to know if she is aware of how much political power she has by being such a phenomenon.
“When I go to schools, there is much more awareness than they think. “They have a vision of everything.”
I want to know if Taylor Swift is aware of how much political power she has by being such a phenomenon.
Alastair Campbell
Campbell, a father of three adult children, is well aware that young people are more likely to not bother voting in elections: a 2022 UK parliament report said 60% of 18- to 25-year-olds They think politicians don't care, and only 54% of 18- to 24-year-olds voted in the 2019 election, the lowest percentage of any age group.
But he fully agrees with Sir Keir Starmer's view that the voting age should be lowered to 16.
“I'm all for it,” he declares, “and I've been for a long time. It's one of the few things Tony Blair and I disagree on. I support lowering the voting age; I think one of the best things about the Scottish independence referendum was that 16 and 17 year olds could vote, and that changed the nature of the debate.
“I would also support compulsory voting and believe there should be proper political education in all schools, including primary schools. “I think kids can deal with that.”
He highlights that when they are old enough to vote, it is important for young people to use their vote, no matter how disenchanted they are with politics.
“What I would say to young people is that one of the reasons they are probably cynical about politics is because politicians spend too much time worrying about older people, and one of the reasons is because they know that older people vote. .
“But by not voting, young people are sending the message of 'business as usual,' so they are actually becoming part of the problem.
“If politicians knew that all young people were going to vote, it would probably change the nature of the debate. Sunak wouldn't have started with national service and pensions, he would have started with something to do with mental health or education or whatever.
“Everything that matters to young people has something to do with politics. “They can make a difference, their voice does count.”
Addressing the young potential readers of his books, he adds: “When I was in primary school, I had no idea what politics was. If you had told me I would be working at 10 Downing Street and involved in big decisions that would change the country and the world, I would have wondered what planet you were from.
“But that happened. It could happen to you too. In fact, you could even become prime minister. Someone has to do it, why not you?
Little Insiders: Why Politics Matters by Alastair Campbell will be published in Red Shed on 4th July and will be priced £9.99.Alastair Campbell Talks Politics is published by Red Shed, priced £9.99. Available now.
