Amid the reshuffle of Rishi Sunak’s cabinet and ongoing international crises, The Student set out to find whether students at the University of Edinburgh care about politics at all.
The Student asked students on campus and carried out a survey to see how politically engaged Edinburgh students are.
Despite 41 per cent of surveyed students studying politics or a related subject, only 12 per cent were content with their level of understanding of current politics.
Moreover, 83 per cent of surveyed students would like to know more about politics.
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Data gathered by Ipsos estimates that only 47 per cent of 18-24 year olds voted in the 2019 general election.
The survey revealed that 83 per cent of students did generally follow politics and 87 per cent agreed that it directly affects their lives in many ways.
Many students who identified as part of a minority group stated they did not have the choice whether to care about politics.
The students surveyed were most interested in Westminster and International politics, with only 18 per cent following Scottish or Local politics.
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14 per cent of students also follow their home countries’ politics.
When students were asked why they do not follow politics one respondent replied:
“I have felt like I can’t change much, and no matter what, the government will never be on my side.”
Earlier this year, Alistair Campbell, former journalist turned strategist, held a talk at the University of Stirling, urging young people to engage with politics as he recognised “the sense of frustration and powerlessness” within young people.
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A poll by the British Youth council found that 71 per cent of young people don’t feel that political parties speak directly to young people, which appears to be contributing to the frustration and hopelessness felt by young people.
Another student responded “[Westminster] always seems to be in shambles.”
Furthermore, numerous responses mentioned finding politics “overwhelming”, as well as one student who responded saying “politics is frustrating, especially at the moment”.
While 95 per cent of students said they were actively involved in politics, by campaigning, signing petitions, voting, joining protests or being a member of a party, most agreed that not all students care enough about politics.
“I know way too many people who choose to live in ignorance despite having all of the necessary resources to be informed,” one student wrote.
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Image via Rayna Carruthers.