A Quick Q&A With Athian Akec
Athian Akec is a Youth Member of Parliament for Camden. At just 16 years of age, he has already spoken in the Houses of Parliament and his passionate speech was featured on The One Show. Tackling issues such as knife crime, global warming and actively campaigning for a people’s vote - he’s been touted as a politician of the future, Tom Preece spoke to Athian for Yuck! Magazine Volume One...
Tell us your thoughts on Brexit…
Brexit has paralysed our politics. Its deadlock has brought our political system to a grinding halt - but still, despite all that, May’s deal is not the way forward. It will leave our society more insular, broken and divided. While extending the nightmare of austerity. A people’s vote is the only way out of this Brexit labyrinth. So what can the opposition do to change the course of events? Jeremy Corbyn was bolstered close to Downing Street – his promise of a fairer, more equal, open Britain deeply resonated with my generation. If his party fail to do all they can for a people’s vote, my generation will never forgive him. The world’s biggest problems stretch far beyond the rigid lines of borders - whether it’s global warming, humanitarian crisis or workers rights - the EU will play an important role in improving the world. My generation deeply want to have a seat at that table.
What’s wrong with today’s society?
Knife crime symbolises just how broken our society is. Neoliberal austerity has shredded our social fabric, leaving poverty, hopelessness and destitution in its wake. Money starved schools – like the one I go to, decimated youth services and a lack of opportunity all play a part in knife crime. But still, despite all the evidence linking inequality and violent crime, politicians are still hell-bent on flooding the streets with police officers to deal with what are clearly social problems. A shift in language is required. Properly funding comprehensives like mine is not public expenditure, it’s social investment. Our economy, culture and society suffers when the skills of vast disadvantaged sections of our society go untapped, wasted in a system of inequality.
What does it mean to you to be a Member of the Youth Parliament?
Being Camden’s youth MP has been a really enlightening experience. I’ve spoken to MPs, worked with other politically engaged young people, met youth workers, the major of London . I campaigned on a manifesto promising to bring to light the structural causes of knife crime. At every possible opportunity I’ve tried to do that. My proudest moment was speaking at the House of Commons. I wanted to do my best to give a voice to the young people from Camden, Hackney to Ealing who are being left behind by our political system.
Will we be seeing you on the commons floor anytime soon?
It’s interesting. Politics is something I’m definitely interested in. But immediately after school I’m torn between law and journalism – ultimately I just want to do the best I can to highlight and correct our society’s injustices. I wouldn’t mind being major of London. Growing up in inner city London I’ve seen my friends be held back by our deeply unfair economic system. At every point our leaders in Westminster have left my generation, and community unheard, forced to the margins of society. Becoming youth MP for Camden has given me a voice I didn’t previously have. I want to tell stories from a different side of society.
What would be your message to today’s politicians?
I’d tell them to implement a green new deal. Climate change is an existential threat to my generation – when sea levels rise, forests burn, humanitarian crisis hit, living standards plummet and species go extinct - we’ll remember today’s leaders as lazy, selfish and unwise for falling asleep at the wheel, driving our climate to the brink of destruction. A dynamic project of infrastructure investment, green technology research and cross border cooperation is desperately what we’re in need of.
Should the voting age restrictions be changed?
I’m 16 – me, my friends and peers, in the age of Brexit are extremely politically engaged. But without being able to vote, we are bystanders to the destruction our politicians are ensuing. Our chances to elect progressive candidates is being taken away from us – at a critical point for our country and planet. At such a crucial point, the 2016 Brexit referendum we were unable to make our voices heard.