Transcript

Let's be honest, people like me aren't supposed to be in politics. Being raised on one of London's poorest council estates, I don't grab wanting to be a politician or even thinking that it might be a nice career choice. I came to politics the hard way because from a young age I learned that if you don't do politics, politics will do you. When I was 15, my local youth club was shut down. My community didn't have the power, resources or connections to save it, and overnight, kids like me from working class immigrant backgrounds lost our lifeline. That's when we realize if we want change, no one is going to hand it to us. We've got to demand change. But for too many young people, politics feels distant, unwelcoming and, let's be honest, sometimes pointless. In 2019, nearly 40% of young people believed that their vote didn't matter. By 2025, we're facing a climate breakdown, rising living costs, insecure jobs and the low shadow of a pandemic that has stole years of opportunity. That's why I founded my life, my say to put politics back into the hands of young people, organizing young people and the next generation to shape the future of their neighborhoods, registering voters and showing up where young people live, work and hang out. When a general election was called last year, we launched the most ambitious youth participation drive in our history. We went to where young people already were on dating apps, in cinemas, across transport networks and on the brands that they trust. It genuinely felt organic, authentic and truly you fled. And it worked. It was the most successful youth voter registration drive in the UK's history, registering 488,000 and eight. 146 young voters in just six weeks. But we didn't just register voters. We registered a movement built by young people for young people. So if you want to save our democracy, start with the people who are most affected. Make sure that their voices are heard so everyone's voices are heard. Thank you.