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Politicians have a long way to go to win over sceptical young first-time voters ahead of what could be the closest General Election in more than 30 years, a survey for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 1’s Newsbeat suggests.

Just one in three (33 per cent) of 18-22 year olds polled by ComRes say they will definitely use their vote on 6 May, far lower than the 65 per cent figure* for the British population as a whole.

Asked why they will stay at home, 44 per cent say they are not interested, 13 per cent say they do not want to vote and 5 per cent say they do not trust politicians.

"I am not sure what makes one party different from another," said 19-year-old Christina from East Ham in London. "It just feels like one person cannot really make a difference."

Economy "key issue"
The survey also suggests that young voters see money and jobs as by far the most important issues facing Britain today. Almost two thirds of those polled picked the economy, employment, taxation or debt as the key election battleground.

"The most important thing for me is getting back in to work," said 22-year-old Rich, also from East Ham, the constituency in Britain with the highest number of first-time voters. "I have been unemployed for so long I've dropped from being a skilled worker to an unskilled worker. I am just looking for some support and some education to get me back into a job."

"I haven't decided who I am going to vote for this year but I will vote. I think it is important for everyone to have their say."

Thirty-one per cent of first time voters surveyed say David Cameron has the best ideas for growing Britain's economy compared to 22 per cent for Gordon Brown and 8 per cent for Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg.

The poll suggests the Conservative leader is winning over young working class voters with his ideas on the economy, while wealthier young middle class voters are more likely to favour Gordon Brown.

The first time voters were polled in social groups. Wealthier social groups AB (23 per cent) and C1 (24 per cent) are more likely to say that they think Gordon Brown has the best ideas for growing Britain’s economy, compared to first-time voters in social groups C2 (17 per cent) and DE (18 per cent) who are more likely to say the same of David Cameron.

Expenses scandal
The survey also suggests the scandal over MPs' expenses could have an impact on first time voters come May 6.

Forty per cent say they have less trust in politicians than a year ago. More than half of those blame expenses, with another one in ten pointing the finger at bad publicity and media coverage.

"They all look like tired old men," said 20-year-old Prejay. "It just feels like they are more interested in the way things look than the way things really are."

Almost a quarter of those polled say they are more interested in the policies of smaller parties than they were 12 months ago. Of those, half say they are taking more notice of Green party ideas, another quarter say the same for the BNP and one in five say they are more interested in the policies of UKIP.

"I am definitely going to vote this year. I want to make a difference and show I exist," said 20-year-old Rob. "It's about jobs and crime for me. You look around and see youths dealing drugs and people out of work. That's just not right."

Commenting on the findings, the editor of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 1's Newsbeat, Rod McKenzie, said: "Our poll suggests there's still a big disconnect between politics and first time voters - and, for some, apathy has turned to anger too over the MPs' expenses scandal."

*The figure that suggests 65 per cent of the British population as a whole will vote on May 6 is from the latest poll by ComRes.

Methodology

ComRes telephoned a random sample of 1,000 first-time voters (aged 18-22) in Britain from 6 to 10 April 2010. Data was weighted to be demographically representative of all 18-23 year olds. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Full data tables at www.comres.co.uk.

At the forthcoming general election, how likely are you to vote on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1= certain not to vote through to 10= absolutely certain to vote?
Certain not to vote: 11%
Absolutely certain to vote: 33%

Why are you unlikely to vote in the general election?
Don’t follow anything like that/politics/not interested/don’t understand it: 44%
No reason/not bothered/do not want to vote: 13%
Never voted before/don’t usually vote: 12%
Not been paying a lot of attention to their policies: 10%
Don’t feel there will be any change/no difference between the parties: 7%

What would you say is the most important issue facing Britain today?
Economy: 23%
Employment/unemployment/jobs (lack of): 11%
Recession: 10% Immigration/immigrants/foreigners: 6%
Tax/taxation: 5%
NHS/healthcare: 4%
Financial crisis: 4%
Crime: 3%
Education: 3%
Money: 3%
Debt: 3%
War/terrorism: 2%

Which party leader do you think has the best ideas for growing Britain’s economy?
Gordon Brown: 22%
David Cameron: 31%
Nick Clegg: 8%

Over the last twelve months, has your trust in politicians increased, decreased or stayed the same?
Increased: 4%
Decreased: 40%
Stayed the same: 56%

Why would you say your trust in politicians has decreased over the past year?
Expenses scandal: 52%
Bad publicity/image in the media: 14%
No trust/confidence in the present government/dishonest/tell lies: 11%
Everything seems to be getting worse/dealt with poorly: 9%
Politicians not fulfilling what they say: 8%
MP’s working against each other as opposed to together: 3%
State of country: 2%
Bad impression of MPs/think only of themselves: 2%
No jobs: 2%

Compared to a year ago, would you say you are more or less interested in the policies of smaller parties like UKIP, the Green Party or the BNP, or has there been no change?
More interested: 22%
Less interested: 8%
No change: 70%

Of the 22% that are more interested in the policies of smaller parties, which party’s policies have you become more interested in?
Green Party: 48%
BNP: 25%
UKIP: 20%
Other: 6%
Don’t know/no answer: 45%

Notes to Editors

Any use of information in this release must credit Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 1’s Newsbeat.

PH