The idea that young people can not be politicians is flawed

These are the words of Sam Carling, the new Labour MP for North West Cambridgeshire.

At 22, the University of Cambridge graduate is now the “baby of the House” – the nickname given to the youngest member of the House of Commons – and the first MP to have been born in the 21st century.

I’m going to make the case for why younger politicians should be embraced and supported.

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One need not scroll for too long online to find comment after comment questioning Carling’s suitability for public office due to the perceived “insufficient life experience” attributed to his age.

Some even extend this scepticism to young people in general, arguing against the existence of any young person in public office.

Preoccupation with Carling’s age was also evident in a BBC Breakfast interview, where the interviewers were fixated on it.

This is not the first time such reasoning has emerged. Similar happened for former babies of the House – Mhairi Black (below) (aged 20 in 2015), Nadia Whittome (aged 23 in 2019), and Keir Mather (aged 25 in 2023) – as well as Ross Greer (aged 21 in 2016) at Holyrood.

The whole focus is rather condescending. I’m not suggesting that Parliament necessarily should be filled with exclusively young people, nor do I wish to downplay the demanding nature of being an elected official – simply that young people should not be discredited solely on the basis of their young age.

One argument against young politicians is that some people can recall their own youthful immaturity and believe they would have been ill-suited for such responsibilities at that age.

However, this doesn’t mean that no young people should be in Parliament just because some older people might have been immature or lacked political skills at that age.

While not all young people may be prepared or willing to take on such roles, the same can be said of people of any age. This is no bad thing – we are all different people with different aspirations and roles to play in society.

Young people are fully capable of demonstrating maturity and taking on roles of responsibility and leadership.

As the youngest member of the First Minister’s National Advisory Council on Women and Girls (NACWG) – having begun the role in March 2022, aged 17 – I know I was chosen because of my advocacy expertise and lived experiences as a young Black woman in Scotland.

My background helps ensure that NACWG’s work in evaluating how well the Scottish Government implements our recommendations to address gender inequality is helpful for girls as well as adult women.

Across Scotland and the UK more widely, young people are making significant impacts as founders and board trustees of charities, leaders of national campaigns and protests, presidents of university societies and student unions, local councillors and committee members in youth wings of political parties, among other roles.

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This equips us with the experience, skills and mature attitudes – policy analysis, critical thinking, decision-making, teamwork, communication, dedication, empathy – that are often underestimated in young people.

Dismissing such experience as insignificant is blatantly ageist. It undermines our achievements and capabilities.

Moreover, beyond formal leadership roles, equally as important a reason for young politicians is that the lived experiences and expertise of young people are powerful.

We can offer fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to societal issues, especially those that disproportionately affect us or are unique to the current climate.

We endured online learning during the pandemic, which exposed deficiencies in our education system. Our whole lives have been marked by austerity. Many of us face crippling student debt and exorbitant rent.

We navigate low pay and a challenging job market. We have grown up with technology and the accompanying online harassment and abuse, and are the ones most likely to live in a future where environmental destruction and inequality could worsen.

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Young MPs leveraging their experiences and ideas to advocate for change could positively impact not only young people but also many other marginalised groups.

The idea that young people cannot represent their community because they may lack the experiences of older individuals is flawed. Because surely what all good representatives, regardless of age, should be doing is listening to their constituents, understanding their needs, learning from them, and advocating on their behalf.

Even if we take the argument seriously, how is it fair that the average age of an MP has consistently remained around 50 since 1979? Wouldn’t those against young MPs then have to accept that young people are not being adequately represented? The double standards in such logic are glaring.

Sam Carling, Labour MP for North West Cambridgeshire

Not every young MP will focus on youth-centred policies, of course, as political priorities are influenced by many factors beyond age.

However, research published this month from the Diana Award revealed deep-seated disillusionment with political engagement among young people. Better youth representation in Parliament could not be more needed. No-one can have first-hand experience of every single issue.

But that’s precisely why we have institutions such as Parliament, where representatives from diverse backgrounds and experiences come together to debate, discuss, and shape policy for the benefit of society.

With everyone represented, including young people, policymaking improves.

This all said, however, there are some important considerations. Firstly, it’s essential to ensure a diverse representation of young people, as with any age group.

Young people are not a monolith and experience different intersecting inequalities based on other identities, such as gender, class, race, and disability.

Secondly, there’s a pressing need for a cultural shift in the political environment. Announcing that she would not stand again, Mhairi Black cited Westminster’s “toxic environment” as a major deciding factor.

She also highlighted that being questioned about her age was a constant source of frustration and distraction from her work.

Seeing how parliamentary politics has failed women of colour, such as Diane Abbott (below) (who, as research from Amnesty found, is the most abused MP) does not give me, as a young Black woman, much confidence to enter into parliamentary politics.

Young people, especially those from marginalised communities, face the greatest risks. We need a political landscape free from discrimination, marked instead by compassion, transparency, and genuine commitment to public service.

Ultimately, I believe the concerns surrounding young MPs are not truly about “life experience” but rather suspicion regarding young people’s skills and competence. It’s a thinly veiled guise which is rooted in ageism.

Young people should not be ruled out of politics solely because we are young. Welcoming more young politicians, especially the first of the 21st century, should be encouraged.

To support this, we need a cultural shift to ensure that everyone in politics, including young people, is safe and empowered to perform their roles to the best of their ability.