UK Politics: What’s Really Going On?

Politics isn’t just something that happens in Parliament or on Question Time, it shapes our schools, our homes, our identities, and our futures. Whether it’s laws about protest, the cost of living, school exclusions, or who gets to feel safe in public spaces, politics affects young people every single day.

So if you’ve ever felt like politics is “boring” or “not for people like me”,  let’s flip that script.

Who’s Who? The Main Parties and Leaders (as of 2025)

Labour Party

Leader: Sir Keir Starmer (Prime Minister)

Known for: Public services, workers’ rights, center-left values

Supporters say: They’ll rebuild the NHS and invest in education

Critics say: They’ve watered down progressive policies to win elections

Conservative Party (Tories)

Leader: Kemi Badenoch

Known for: Brexit, austerity, law and order policies

Supporters say: They’re focused on economic growth and national security

Critics say: Their policies have worsened inequality and ignored young voices

Reform UK

Leader: Nigel Farage

Known for: Nationalist policies, anti-establishment stance

Recent gains: Took control of councils in Derbyshire, Doncaster, and Kent

Supporters say: They challenge the status quo

Critics say: They lack comprehensive policies and experience

Liberal Democrats

Leader: Ed Davey

Known for: Civil liberties, pro-European views

Supporters say: They challenge the status quo

Critics say: They’ve struggled for relevance since the 2010 coalition

Green Party

Leaders: Carla Denyer & Adrian Ramsay

Known for: Climate action, social justice, anti-racism

Supporters say: They speak for young and marginalized communities

Critics say: They lack national influence and seats in Parliament

Scottish National Party (SNP)

Leader: John Swinney (First Minister of Scotland)

Key issue: Scottish independence

Facing: Recent internal scandals and leadership change

Plaid Cymru (Wales), Sinn Féin and DUP (Northern Ireland) also play major roles regionally.

Politics and the Law: Why It Matters

Politics decides:

Whether you pay £9K+ a year for uni or not

How schools treat SEND and neurodivergent students

If protest is a right or a criminal act

Whether stop and search powers get expanded

Who gets legal aid (or who doesn’t)

And as future voters, employees, tenants, and maybe even lawyers  young people can’t afford to ignore this stuff.

Political Controversies You Should Know About

Liz Truss’s 49-Day Premiership (2022)

Her disastrous mini-budget crashed the economy, hiked mortgage rates, and wiped out billions — all in record time.

Boris Johnson’s ‘Partygate’ Scandal

He partied at Downing Street during COVID lockdowns while the country grieved, then lied about it. He’s now banned from holding a Parliamentary pass.

Windrush Scandal

Thousands of Black Britons were wrongly detained or deported despite living in the UK for decades. Some lost homes, jobs — or died waiting for justice.

Post-Brexit Backlash

Promises of sovereignty and control have come at a cost,  including fewer rights for young people to study or work in Europe.

Protest Crackdowns

The government keeps passing laws that limit the right to protest — including proposed bans on wearing face masks, which threaten privacy and safety for many.

Race and Politics in the UK

Let’s not pretend we’re “post-racial.” British politics is still shaped by racism — from the criminalization of Black youth to underrepresentation in Parliament.

Black and Asian MPs still face death threats, racial abuse, and media harassment (see Diane Abbott or Zarah Sultana)

Stop and search powers are used disproportionately against Black people

School exclusions hit Black Caribbean boys at rates way above average

Migrant communities are constantly scapegoated in headlines and policy

Until politics truly reflects everyone , not just the privileged few , young Black and Brown people must stay informed and involved.

Gender and Politics

Parliament is still male-dominated. Women, especially Black, working-class, and women from the LGBTQI+ communities, are underrepresented, underpaid and often under attack.

Only 35% of MPs are women

Sexist culture still exists in Westminster

Gender-based violence and sexual harassment in politics remains common

Period poverty, childcare and women’s healthcare are still sidelined in debates

Yet women and girls have been at the forefront of every major movement: from Suffragettes to Sisters Uncut, from school climate strikes to MeToo. Don’t let anyone tell you politics isn’t for girls.

Final Word: Politics Belongs to Us

Politics is power. If we don’t understand it, we can’t challenge it. And if we don’t challenge it, we can’t change it.

Whether you want to vote, protest, write, speak, or study the law, you’re already political. Don’t wait to be 18 to care.

On Lorenalitit.com, I’ll keep breaking down politics in a way that actually makes sense, no jargon, no spin, no pretending it doesn’t matter. Because it does.

Want more breakdowns like this? Or to collab on political content for Gen Z? Get in touch via the contact form or DM me on LinkedIn @lorena-thompson-kerr