MILLIONS of young people are disillusioned with politics and politicians. 

But if Labour could harness their support, an election victory would be assured.

Is Labour doing what it should to rally the young? Here are 10 suggestions that could get it started.

1

 Most young people pay rent to private landlords, or have had experience of doing so. Therefore Labour needs to promise much more. 

Rents are already way too high — so capping them now does not help much. Conditions in many properties are appalling. How about an Ofsted-style inspectorate to be set up to determine appropriate rent? 

Many of the profiteering landlords are tax avoiders and evaders, so HMRC should be targeting them.

2

 Students especially are prone to exploitation by rogue landlords so new regulations should be considered. 

As all students are in the same boat, why not a standard rent per room per week, inflation-linked and regardless of city, district and so on?

It could be made to meet certain criteria, like access to a suitable kitchen, showers, bathroom, wifi access...

All students paying reduced fees with government loans to have accounts opened for them in a state-owned People’s Bank.

3

 Pledge that increasing social mobility will be a priority target of a Labour government, because top jobs going to Oxbridge graduates and privately educated pupils dominating top universities is unfair. 

A cap at 10 per cent of all students at any university to be from private schools would do for starters.

4

 Social media, if utilised properly, can be successful in persuading young people out of their political apathy, as shown recently in the United States. 

Constant reminders of what the coalition has done and of the difference Labour will make can work wonders, especially if the messages are varied and appear on all aspects of social media.

5

 Messages to the young need to be delivered by young Labour supporters. A team of four Labour activists, preferably from ordinary backgrounds and state schools, could be set up to write the messages and perhaps devise a presentation for all Labour MPs and candidates to use in their constituencies when talking to young people, with YouTube links to demonstrate exactly why their votes are needed.

6

 Young and famous people — provided there are no tax-avoidance scandals possible, thus ruling out most sports stars — could be approached and asked to post messages on social media.

7

 Over half of young people are female so most messages and party broadcasts should be delivered by women. Labour’s women MPs need to have a higher public profile and the male leaders less.

8

 Many young people earn a pittance so policy to end zero-hours contracts needs to be designed specifically for them. 

They would probably welcome knowing which employers were the best, so a Labour government could initiate a system whereby awards are given to companies to display in their advertising — when they pay correct tax, pay all workers at least the living wage and do not use zero-hours contracts, allow trade unions to operate freely, and have an appropriate number of suitable apprenticeship schemes. This could be similar to the Blue Eagles scheme in FD Roosevelt’s United States.

9

 Impose a three-line whip on all Labour MPs and candidates visiting secondary schools in their constituencies to talk to older pupils. 

They may not be voters this time but are undoubtedly influential members of families and communities.

Highlight the damaging effects of Gove’s reforms, with pledges to repeal damaging assessment changes.

10

 Challenge the coalition to change the location of polling booths before May 2015, or at least promise to do so when in government.They need to be less traditional and more accessible — in supermarkets, town centres, college campuses and so on!