A 14 year old from Lancashire has proved that youth have got something to say about politics.
Alfie McKenzie was accidentally issued with a polling card for the election, after an administrative mistake. Instead of accepting that as an under-18 he should just shut up and accept whatever older folk decide is best for him, he decided to use his vote.
“It was just too much of a temptation to resist,” he said. “I’m a socialist, I’m really, really interested in politics. I’d been reading up on it a lot before the election, and I’d got very interested in tactical voting. Nobody asked me for ID or anything, I was literally in and out of the polling station in about 15 seconds.”
“I’m only sorry that I got caught.”
Although Alfie declared himself to be a socialist, there weren’t any socialist candidates standing in his constituency of Wyre and Preston North, so he was forced to vote tactically for the Lib Dems. His constituency is a safe Tory seat.
Knowing that he was breaking the rules, Alfie even DISGUISED himself as a Tory, saying that if the workers at the polling station bought it that he “knew they wouldn’t suspect an under-18 for voting Tory.” He said:
“I was at the polling station by 10 past seven. I dressed really carefully, in my trenchcoat, with my glasses, and I was careful to wear my posh shoes. I put on a posh accent, sort of southern. I reckoned if they thought I was a Tory voter nobody would suspect me, because it couldn’t have made any difference in this constituency.”
At school he made the fatal mistake of confiding in a teacher in strict confidence, who then went on to GRASS him in to the council and cops. However, despite a stern talking to, the cops have basically said they’ll take the matter no further.
Tory Boy: What Alfie's disguise might have looked like
When the story broke, Alfie went even further to confirm his legend status by REFUSING to talk to The Sun, who wanted to make his tale an exclusive. In the end the story was told by The Guardian and the BBC. But that hasn’t stopped other parts of the right wing press flinging their hands up in horror, with the Daily Mail asking “How could this happen?!?!?!?!?!? (rage rage broken britain flog the bastard.)”
We’d like to congratulate Alfie for taking a stand for the rights of young people to participate in the political system. We’re no fans of the Lib Dems here, and hope he shares our frustration at seeing them in coalition talks with the Tories. We do sympathise with the plight of anyone stuck in a constituency where your only choice is the big 3 or UKIP. We hope that Alfie decides to go beyond just voting, and helps organise for socialism in his community. If you ever decide to move to Scotland for work or study, you should check out the SSP. In the meantime, this blog is well worth reading for daily coverage of all things socialist.
And we’d like to extend an open invitation to Alfie to come join us this August at Camp Secret Squirrel. It’s in the South of Scotland, so it’s not too far to go from Lancashire. Anyone who’s reading this who knows how to get in touch with Alfie please pass on the invitation, because we’re not just saying it as a joke! He can sign up to the Facebook event here.
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Remind me again, you are supposed to be the party of the workers are you not?
I wonder if this self-centred little no-mark has given any thought to the trouble his criminal deception will cause for the polling staff. Unlikely, since he is so far up his own backside he can probably see his teeth from the back. And you’re too busy using juvenile phrases like “grass” to realise what he’s actually done.
In a busy polling station, under pressure mistakes can be made. Particularly when there’s a deliberate conspiracy taking place. But the poll staff won’t get a column in the press and a backhander for themselves.
I’m disappointed to hear he is not to be prosecuted, 5 years may be excessive but a formally recorded punishment would not be. Hopefully the Returning Officer will have a better sense of responsibility than the local police and insist on further action.
Oh, and no teacher can treat a matter as “confidential” when its a confession of delibarate criminal activity.
At the very least someone needs to take him to one side and tell him he’s got 4 years to grow up before he can cast a proper vote.
Hahaha, lighten up Iain!
The staff at the polling station didn’t make a mistake, he turned up with a valid polling card. the mistake was made when he was issued with a card. In my experience of voting, nobody does check your id, they just ask for a polling card and check you off on the register. Therefore the staff at the polling station have done nothing wrong and shouldn’t receive any hassle as a result.
We’re a pro-youth organisation that argues for votes at 16. But more than that, we believe that young people deserve a far greater say in politics, rather than being treated as scapegoats and ignored by the political parties. We also don’t have a huge amount of faith in the corrupt and broken electoral system of the UK, which is giving Scotland an unelected government of the parties that came 3rd and 4th in the poll.
Young people break the law in all kinds of ways every day. Alfie broke the law as part of a deliberate effort to better society as best he could, something that we also do and support. I’m really disappointed to see you laying into someone for showing commitment to a better society, and calling for a 14 year old to be prosecuted. I think you need to get a grip tbh. Alfie’s “crime” pales into insignificance compared to the crimes of those elected every 5 years, from illegal wars to robbing the working class to swell the bank balances of Fred Goodwin et al.
You sound like a Daily Mail editorial.
Iain, someone needs to take you a side and give you a shiatsu massage or something. God, you’d think the guy had stabbed someone. I support what he did. I was going to do it too with my mum’s card, and you can say what you fucking like, but i’d have done it and gotten away with it. I was born eight days too late to vote this year and I wish i’d done the same thing, considering the turnout.
Good oan ye, i say.
The reason for a voting age is the assumption that people below it either don’t know or don’t care – Alfie has shown quite clearly he is in neither of those categories. Giving two fingers to the Sun makes him even more of a legend. I missed the last election by a week, wish I’d been able to do the same…
Alfie said he wouldn’t talk to the Sun as he is both a socialist and a Liverpool fan.
Iain! Tory or Jealousy??
Iain – Alfie has actually been quoted saying that he doesn’t want to get anybody in trouble, and he HAS thought about it, have a read about the Kid he is actually a remarkable young man, and extremely intelligent. I say you should have to be tested on politics before you can vote. Alfie obviously knows what he wants for his country, that should only be applauded. You my friend, are just a bit of an arse.
So only those who are intelligent should be allowed to vote. What an arrogant, elitist cunt you are.
I have contacted Alfie about him showing interest in coming to CSS
i’m a close friend of alfies and quite frankly i think it’s appauling for anyone above ^ to call him a ’self centred little low life’ closed minded foolery is what that is… alfie’s a brilliant guy with
a lot of views and opinions, the guy did something bold, i think for anyone to call on him negatively for doing so should get out of their box, why should you stay in your comfort zone,
like anyone really does anything to show their beliefs in politics apart from the odd vote,