Nearly two-third of British people think the current political system — dominated by the 'Westminster bubble' — is not working. Asked if they believe the current UK political system is failing, 61 percent of all online adults agreed. The figure jumped to 67 percent for 35 to 44-year-olds.
Many believe that MPs in general are not switched on to the modern world and that political engagement is outdated. More than half (57 percent) agree people should be able to vote regularly via online digital media on key political issues and legislation.
"The Age of the Horse"
The YouGov poll was commissioned by EngageSciences, whose CEO, Richard Jones, warned that democracy is under threat if politicians don't respond quickly to the public's growing frustration with Westminster.
Will young people be spoiling ballots or not voting on election day?: http://t.co/dC1y8a5u9g by @JamesTapsfield pic.twitter.com/YNkBaOIsTK
— Press Association (@pressassoc) March 11, 2015
"The results clearly show the current political process is dead. Whilst digital disruption is having a transformative effect on most industries and sectors, UK politics remains stuck in a system developed for the age of the horse, not the internet.
"[House of Commons Speaker] John Bercow's recent comments, that online voting for general elections should be in place by 2020, aren't enough. The political process needs to be updated now — not in five years' time.
"We need to revolutionise political communications in this country and use digital media to build a system of direct democracy. Only then will we properly address the growing disconnect between politicians and ordinary people."
Young Spoilers
Meanwhile, research by uSurv for the Press Association found that more than one in eight young people have already decided they will either not bother to vote in the general election on May 7 or will choose to spoil their ballot.
One third of 18–24 year olds think social media will influence their vote in the upcoming UK elections: http://t.co/HPpfwcdeKN
— Brand Perfect (@brandperfect) March 10, 2015
Worse still, 56 percent of 18 to 30-year-olds admitted not knowing the name of their current MP. Labour leader Ed Miliband and the Conservatives' David Cameron have been trying to woo younger voters, with Cameron promising help to get on the housing ladder and the Labour leader promising to cut tuition fees and guarantee jobs.
But 13.1 percent said they were either not intending to vote or would be spoiling their ballot paper.
Mita Desai, 24, Chair of Trustees at the British Youth Council, said: "Certainly politicians are not talking the language that engages young people. It comes across as a white, middle class, middle-aged point of view and therefore there are many who feel disengaged.
"Voting gives you power and if there is a proportion in society that don't have access to this power, it is the job of politicians to engage them."
She said spoiling their ballot paper was still a way of expressing a view on the 'Westminster bubble'.
"It is still a way of exercising the power and showing that young people don't feel like the issues that affect them are being addressed in a language they understand."
