Last month, Henry Scott celebrated his 18th birthday. This month, he’ll appear on the ballot paper as an independent candidate for Leyton and Wanstead. He’s one of a dozen or so teenagers hoping to make history on 12 December by becoming the youngest ever candidates elected to parliament.

As young people increasingly take the lead on issues like climate change and mental health, it is no surprise that many have been spurred to seek election as MPs. Two years ago, more than a million under 25s registered in the weeks following the election announcement. This time round, it’s over a third higher.

Scott thinks that the unprecedented political climate is helping to level the playing field. “Anyone new who runs for parliament at this time will be just as inexperienced as me,” he says. “It’s a huge undertaking and a lot of learning has to take place in a very short period of time.”

Scott is campaigning while still at college in London. After a politics teacher asked who he was planning on voting for, he realised he didn’t identify with any of the main parties and decided to stand as an independent. And in his view, fresh voices are needed in order to bring energy and ideas to the democratic deadlock.

“Everything that happens now politically has a direct consequence for my generation,” he says. “I think that it’s time for someone to go into parliament and represent that demographic.”

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In reality, our elected representatives are getting older: in 1979, the average age of an MP at election was 49.6, reaching 50.3 in 2001, and now 51.1 in 2017.

Mary Kate Ross, 19 who is standing to be MP in Sterling is the Labour Party’s youngest prospective parliamentary candidate and believes that politicians are “out of touch” with the real world, with better representation needed to inspire younger generations.

“A lot of parties have failed to reach out to young people and show them how voting for them will help change their lives for the better,” she says. “I think parties’ policies have been more catered towards older demographics which is why they tend to have a higher turnout rate.”

Ross is studying history and politics at the University of Sterling, and braves the winter evenings to leaflet around her lectures. Age has been the topic of surprisingly few of her doorstep conversations so far, but as a working student and a renter she’s more than happy to justify her life experience while challenging that of others.

“Parliament really needs to move away from the pale, male and stale image that has developed and we really need more people from different backgrounds and cultures. Young people definitely need a representative in times like this where the decisions made in parliament will affect our generation in years to come.”

Even among first time MPs, the average age is not as low as these young voices would suggest: in 2017 it was 42, and at its lowest it has only fallen to 39. Voters also increasingly want candidates with previous political experience: in 1979, only 3 per cent of new MPs had already been politicians or organisers; by 2015, it was 17 per cent.

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Inaya Folarin Iman is the Brexit Party candidate for Leeds North East. A 22 year old freelance journalist, she may not quite be a teenager, but she’s still been told by opponents that she’s too young to run for office.

“We have had three and a half years of a political system in flux, partly exacerbated by establishment politicians,” she says. “I think that speaks volumes. In my view, this is exactly the right time for new people and fresh faces because we are in uncharted territory and therefore we need people with vision, courage and determination.

She adds: “I am not a ‘novice’. Just because someone hasn’t been involved in parliamentary politics, it doesn’t mean that they have not been involved in politics more generally. Political engagement takes various forms – we must remember that.”

As part of Vote For Your Future’s campaign to get more young people than ever registered to vote, we’ve been hosting hustings with prospective MPs across the country. Students at schools, colleges and universities are not only ready to vote but are passionate about the issues that affect them – knife crime, tuition fees, the environment – and pose challenging questions to those seeking election.

Nevertheless, turnout remains a huge challenge: in 2017, YouGov estimates that only 57 per cent of 18-19 year olds voted, compared to 84 per cent of those aged 70+.

Alex Wagner, an 18 year old Liberal Democrat candidate running for MP in Stafford, is sympathetic. He asks: “If you’re a student and between addresses, or doing a fairly precarious gig economy job, then why would voting and being political be top of your agenda?”

“I really hope, though, that if there are more younger candidates like me standing across Britain, it will at least send a message that politics isn’t reserved for anyone in particular in this country, and that anyone can get involved.”

Whatever you make of this new generation of political hopefuls, if young people want to be taken seriously, they must make their voices heard in this election.