Background image

terug

My party

It's my party

11    Thousands of young people become fully paid-up members of political parties every
2 year. What makes them commit themselves when, in some cases, they aren't even old
3 enough to vote? We asked three party 'animais' why they had signed up.
 
4 Bharti Patel
25    Bharti Patel, 19, from Birmingham, joined the socialist Labour Party when she was 16.
36    Were you confident about expressing your views when you were 16?
7 'At school I got myself a reputation for being the class "Lefty". I'd make a stand whenever
8 I got an opportunity - especially in English. My essays were always on a hot political issue.
9 Looking back, they were probably really silly.
410    I actually think that my friends admired me because of my polities. Luckily, I wasn't
11 just interested in polities, so they didn't seriously start to believe 1 was a creature from
12 outer space. Other people thought I was a bit odd, though. They were off to parties and I
13 was going to meetings.'
514    What kind activities are you involved in?
15 'I'm in the Labour Party for a purpose. If you campaign around certain issues, you can
16 effect a change. There's reaIly no end to my political activities. One week I'm working for
17 a women's section, the next for a black people's section, as weIl as four generaI Labour
18 Party meetings a month, and ward meetings. If I'm not doing as much as I should over a
19 particular campaign, I do suffer feelings of guilt.'
620    Can polities eome between friends?
21 'Yes, definitely. There comes a point in friendships when you stop talking about going out
22 and start talking about political issues . If you find yourself completely at odds with
23 someone, you'll just drift apart. But I also think polities can cement romantic relationships.
24 You're likely to spend a lot of time with people and mutual respect develops.'
 
25 Claire Hili
726    Claire Hill, is, a schoolgirl from North London, joined the Young Conservatives last
27 October. There are between 5,000 and 10,000 YCs in this country and while most members
28 are between 18 and 30 years old, Claire's age hasn't stopped her from becoming the leader
29 of her group.
830    When did you first beeome interested in polities?
31 'l've re ad the Daily Mail newspaper since I was nine, which has helped me understand
32 what was going on. I was about 12 or 13 when I realised that polities weren't just boring
33 talk that didn't affect you, but something that can change people's lives.'
934    Do you think polities ean eome between friends?
35 'I have two friends who support Labour and we argue on everything from taxes to capital
36 punishment. You do have to be sensible, though. You can't get to fever pitch, then burst
37 out crying. I don't think I could go out with a boy who supported Labour, though. I
38 couldn't imagine marrying someone who I argued with on every point. I don't think I'd get
39 on with someone who was a-political either, unless I could change him into a Conservative.
40 You must have an opinion, I don't think you can be very bright if you've no idea what's
41 going on.'
 
42 May Malteno
1043    May Malteno, 18, joined the Green Party two years ago.
1144    What would you say to people who were environmentally aware, but didn 't want to join
45 a political party?
46 'I'd ask them how they intended to save the planet. There are certain things you can do
47 about your own lifestyle, but ultimately you have to find a way of influencing people who
48 make decisions on your behalf and those are Members of Parliament. '
1249    How do outsiders view your polities?
50 'We are accused of being foolish and hopeful. We'd love a world where everyone loved
51 each other and it didn't matter what colour your skin was and everyone had enough to eat.
52 We admit that's going to be very hard to achieve, but it should never stop you aspiring to
53 those things. The Green Partyallows you to be idealistic.'

from '19', July 1990