Intergenerational injustice and party politics

Abstract

Intergenerational injustice is becoming increasingly apparent in the voting system in the UK. Recent general elections have witnessed a growing disparity in turnout between younger age cohorts and their older counterparts. This paper argues that the growing political influence of the so-called “grey vote” can be seen in various decisions taken by the present UK government that have harmed the interests of young people, and that there is a danger this could result in a negative feedback effect whereby young people become increasingly alienated from the political system because they feel that it does not serve their interests. The author suggests various steps which need to be taken to restore young peoples’ faith in democracy and to reverse the slide towards the UK becoming a parliamentary gerontocracy.