Young vote against spin and baby-kissing

Politicians should spend less time kissing babies and cut down on spin-doctors, the young believe, according to the most comprehensive study ever undertaken on their views on politics.

Arrogance, jargon and statistics are other turn-offs for more than 1,000 14- to 19-year-olds interviewed for the Government's Children and Young People's unit.

The British Market Research Bureau found that 53 per cent of young people believe people should vote only if they care who wins and 34 per cent think politicians should listen more to what teenagers and children have to say.

Young People and Politics was commissioned by the Government in response to the dismal turnout at the last election, when only 39 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds voted. The aim was to discover why young people were so disengaged in the political process. John Denham, the minister for young people, will announce the findings this week.

The report is certain to make policy-makers wince. A mission statement compiled by 60 young people involved in the survey tells politicians: "Don't just appear to kiss babies at election time and then go Awol until next time. Don't just surround yourself with white, middle-class men as advisers."

They will be relieved to know that teenagers do not expect MPs to "be down with the kids on the street". However, "stunts" engineered to win over the youth vote are openly condemned.

The reliance on "spin" is also criticised: "Politicians already know clear and simple language – they just choose not to use it."

The survey also reveals that young people want more debate on lowering the voting age to 16. They favour mixing politics with entertainment by introducing political story lines into soap operas.

Another suggestion is setting up a dedicated phone line for young people to call for information on the Government.

Mr Denham said the research was important because it represented the views of the first-time voters at the next election.

"What comes across clearly is this is not an apathetic generation," he said.

"They are interested in issues like youth crime and drugs. But it's not enough to talk about the same issues – we have to be seen to be talking to young people. There is this activity called politics and then there is real life."