PEOPLE SHOULDN’T complain about politics if they don’t get out to vote – that’s according to Oldham Politics A level student Chloe Owen who has just turned 18.
Chloe, who is currently a volunteer ‘board runner’ in Debbie Abrahams’ canvassing team, cannot wait to put her cross on the ballot paper this week.
She is such a passionate follower of politics that her mum ordered her a special birthday cake, which included the parliamentary crest and a miniature model of the House of Commons.
Chloe’s interest in politics was triggered when she was just 14 years old in the weeks leading up to the last general election in 2010, during citizenship classes at school.
She explained: “I wasn’t really interested or aware of politics but with the classes and all the media coverage of the election I started to take notice and found it really interesting.”
In fact, last year, Chloe’s growing interest in politics led her to contact Debbie Abrahams who organised a guided tour of Parliament for her.
And in the build up to this year’s general election on Thursday May 7, Chloe is determined to play an active part.
She said: “People complain a lot about politics and politicians and, actually, I think it’s right to keep our politicians on their toes and we should be telling them what we want.
“But it’s wrong to say all politicians are the same or that voting doesn’t make any difference. These are just lazy ways of allowing yourself not to make an effort to find out about the candidates, and the parties, and what they believe in.
“The worst case scenario is that by not voting you allow in the more extremist parties and, if that happens, non-voters only have themselves to blame.
“Voting does make a difference! There are clear differences between the values of political parties but, as voters, we do have to make an effort to find out what those differences are.
She continued: “The one thing that really makes me determined to always use my vote is the thought of the sacrifices the Suffragettes made to ensure women were given equal rights to vote.
“I would say to anyone who says they’re not going to vote to think of the Suffragette Annie Kenney who was born in Springhead in 1879.
“Annie became a leading figure in the Suffragette movement in 1905 when she and Christabel Pankhurst, were imprisoned for several days after heckling Winston Churchill and Sir Edward Grey at a rally on the issue of votes for women.
“It’s because of people like Annie Kenney that I have the right to vote and I won’t waste the chance to have my voice heard.”
Determined to do her bit locally, Chloe has been backing Debbie Abrahams’ campaign.
Mrs Abrahams said: “Chloe has been real asset to my team and a credit to her family and school for inspiring her interest in politics.
“I hope anyone feeling disillusioned with the state of politics at the moment will take a moment to consider what Chloe says about the importance of voting.
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