A principle of the Amcrican war of independence - "No eee Ee Ropresentation" - is still a utopia for British youth today. : : a pay tax, earm a living, can get married and raise a family, “be conscrip if the Government so wishe® and be full members of most political ‘pertieg amd yet for young people between 18 and 21 the right to vote is still denied. The latest piece of double-dealing by Wilson end co. can only be seen in light of this. en though the Laty Report - not exactly a committee of socialists - ; Tee ence voting age to 18 the Government negotiated with their pals in the Tory Party and made the massive concession of lowering the voting age to 20! This should, again, be seen in perspective, as general elections occur only once every five years and thus many people are 25 before they cam vote in a general election. This measly concession means that they can now vote at 24 instead! Despite continuous evidence from everybody, from psychiatrists to archbishops. that youth are becoming mature adults younger all the time, the Governnent still feels that 2 man or woman of twenty is only just capable of voting. This obviously poses questions which we, as socialists, cannot avoid answering. The youth today are probably the most radical youth that there has ever been in Britain. Despite bureaucratic interference in the youth movememts (e.g+5 LePsY.Se, YoGeL.) the youth heve played a leading role in the Vietnsm movement and other campaigns. They supply the rank and file for most solidarity and anti-imperialist orgamisations., This is coupled with a@ growing radicalisation among students and a greater degre? of youth participation in the trade unions than ever before. Obviously these youth between 18 and 21 could provide a solid plank of Labour support in any election, yet Wilson chose to exclude most of them from the franchise. When it is obvious thet the Government has alienated whole sections of the workers by its anti-union, pro-big business policies it appears thet Wilson's action is totally suicidal, This was the only slim chance that Labour had of regaining a leading position at the ballot box and yet even this very minor reform has been decapitated. What can youth do about this? Firstly, they mst not make the misteke of turning their back on the Lebour movement as a result of Wilson's double-dealing. They should be prepared “to fight thoir case every time an opportunity arises. Clearly votes at 18 is not a pamacea for youths; it gives them only, as Marx said, "The right to choose once every five years who will misrepresent them in Parliament." What it will achieve is closer unity between older workers and youth; end 8ive youth a fundamental right to elect who they Wish. Yourg SScetaltsts and Labour students should push for this in their C.L.P.s, union branches P wards, aic., and a campaign could be launched, perheps, to aid this, Wilson should not be allowed to spit in the face of Britain's youth and destroy the Labour Party's chance of a return to power, just to kow-tow to the Tories. Votes at cightxm are allowed in many countries, both capitalist and workers stetes, and it is the duty of the lebour movement to demand this in Britain.
SOLIDARITY