Politicians have a challenge on their hands if they are to inspire teenagers to vote, according to a senior county councillor.

Last Wednesday, Kent County Council’s cabinet member for education, Cllr Mike Whiting, spoke to sixth-formers at Fulston Manor School as part of Local Democracy Week.

“They’re people who will be able to vote in the 2015 general election,” he said. “But out of about 100 kids, only 10 or 12 of them put their hand up and said they were intending to vote.

Current affairs

“There’s certainly a bit of work to do to engage young people in current affairs and politics in general and how they can make a difference.”

Cllr Whiting said issues raised by the Year 12s included the scrapping of the education maintenance allowance – payments to 16 to 19-year-olds which enabled them to continue with their studies after GCSEs – and fears about job prospects.

Cllr Whiting also asked for a show of hands for who was for an airport in the Thames Estuary and just six out of the 100 were in favour.