Ken Livingstone yesterday launched the 1824 Collective – a campaign to increase the number of people registered to vote ahead of the local elections in May.
Speaking at the launch which took place at the Rex cinema, Leicester Square the Mayor said:
“Shockingly, a quarter of 18 to 24 year olds are not registered to vote. It is not in any of our interests that our young people seem so disengaged in the political process. These are the future generation of leaders and decision makers and it is important that they feel that their opinions are being heard”
Also attending the launch was London MP and Elections Minister Harriet Harman who said:
“The campaign to encourage young Londoners to register to vote is vital for the health of our democracy. To have an equal democracy everyone must have their right to vote at election time.”
Joining Ms Harman and the Mayor were urban artist Estelle and MTV News presenter Tim Kash.
The initiative is a joint project between the Mayor of London and the Department of Constitutional Affairs together with Operation Black Vote, the Electoral Commission, the Association of London Government, and the Commission for Racial Equality.
