Tackling barriers to youth engagement in politics
Many young people feel that our politics is broken. Our voting system needs to build trust. A political culture that places the voices of young people front and centre is imperative, particularly now the voting age has been lowered to 16.
In its 25th Anniversary year, the London Assembly is hosting a very special cross-party event in conjunction with Make Votes Matter.
An audience of young people will fill The Chamber at City Hall to discuss issues including:
- Barriers to engagement for young people in politics
- The impact of voting systems on engaging young people
- How social media affects the narrative
- Parties providing policies that address the concerns of young people
- Government strategy – what is good and what is missing
- How the London Assembly does things differently
Introduced by Len Duvall OBE AM, Chair of the London Assembly.
Panel Participants include:
- Bassam Mahfouz AM, Labour Group
- Emma Best AM, Conservative Group
- Caroline Russell AM, Green Group
- Hina Bokhari AM, Liberal Democrat Group
- Alex Wilson AM, Reform UK Group
- Hugo Maxwell, Chair of the London Youth Assembly, 2025-26
Chair: Emma Harrison, CEO of Make Votes Matter
The event will take place on Tuesday 14 October 2025 from 4.30-6pm in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
Audience participation and questions are encouraged from those viewing at home and in the Chamber.
Media are invited to attend by prior arrangement. See contact details below.
The event can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
Follow us @LondonAssembly.
Notes to editors
- The Greater London Authority (GLA) was established on July 3rd, 2000, following a local referendum. It consists of two political branches: the executive mayoralty and the London Assembly, a 25-member cross party body tasked with holding the Mayor to account.
For more details, please contact Alison Bell on 07887 832 918 or at [email protected]. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer.