Who are they? Young Tories
What are they? The Young Tory is keeping the Conservative party up at night – largely because there are so few of them. At the 2017 general election Theresa May only won 22 percent of the 20-24-year-old vote, compared to Jeremy Corbyn's 62 percent. The old and dying got the message, but the rest of the country – the ones who'll be voting for the next 60 years – turned their backs on the party in droves. Since then, the Tories have scrambled for an answer, with policy shifts like a cap on tuition fees, and the emergence of a Momentum-style youth wing, Activate.
What are they? The Young Tory is keeping the Conservative party up at night – largely because there are so few of them. At the 2017 general election Theresa May only won 22 percent of the 20-24-year-old vote, compared to Jeremy Corbyn's 62 percent. The old and dying got the message, but the rest of the country – the ones who'll be voting for the next 60 years – turned their backs on the party in droves. Since then, the Tories have scrambled for an answer, with policy shifts like a cap on tuition fees, and the emergence of a Momentum-style youth wing, Activate.
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Of course, not all of the young Tories have disappeared. We should know: we found some. Across the past year we've spoken with Tory voters and party members aged under 30 from all over the UK about their political stories and experiences. Why they vote the way they do, and how it feels to be so out of step with their generation. Their responses point to much of the problem: neglected by their party's policies and shunned by their peers, the Young Tory is adrift.
Sam, 26 (Photographed)
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The election result showed that, as a centre-right person, things I'd taken for granted as won arguments about the privatisation of industry and the market economy need to be remade again. That will be a real setback to the progress we made since Margaret Thatcher's liberalisation of the economy in the 1980s. I am quite concerned about the prospects for Conservatism. I think it's something we need to work on a lot over the next few years.I do think there's a real risk of Jeremy Corbyn winning the next election. Look at the polls, look at the demographics. I'm also not sure the government are moving to address some of the issues raised by the election. I don't think there's enough ambition on housing, or tackling climate change. I think a lot of people at the last election were disillusioned, and I've got friends who let their memberships lapse. For me personally, I understand it's a broad coalition, and I'm not going to always get my way. Provided there are always people like me in the party I'm happy to stay and put forward the version of Conservatism I prefer.I don't think I come across as a "Tory" at all, and I wouldn't want to be because I like to change my mind. I like to think I come across as pretty central, but right-leaning, perhaps. It's easy to stereotype anyone – you're either a bleeding liberal or a cold-hearted toff. I think one of the big problems in politics at the moment, actually, is a lack of middle ground, and people are feeling really stuck. I definitely don't feel totally represented by the Conservative party. I do think there's a misconception that in order to be Conservative you have to be loaded and not care about people worse off than you.
Charlie, 22
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Jake, 24
Kirsty, 21
Michael, 21
Lydia, 20
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Ryan, 22
Becca, 20
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