STUDENTS
25/05/2016 12:06 BST

EU Referendum Campaigns Don't Seem To 'Get' Young People

Tragic, really.

With less than a month to go before Brits cast their ballots in the EU referendum, efforts to engage young people have taken a turn for the bizarre.

From former teen TV presenters to elder statesmen, grey-haired experts to branded condoms, Britain's youth vote must surely feel underserved.  

Here are 6 tragic signs EU campaigners aren't down with the kids...

  • Condoms... in favour of pulling out
    Condoms... in favour of pulling out
    BRIDIEPJONES/TWITTER
    Vote Leave took top marks for cringe when it introduced branded condoms advocating pulling out of the EU.

    The pro-Brexit campaign have issued the promotional prophylactics to students at several universities. 

    After a reported success, Vote Leave confirmed a "second, larger, load" had been ordered.

    But some students thought the idea was, well, icky.
  • June Sarpong... to talk to the youf
    June Sarpong... to talk to the youf
    Tristan Fewings via Getty Images
    The recruitment of television presenter June Sarpong as youth spokesperson for the Stronger IN campaign came as a surprise to some.

    That's because the 38-year-old had been largely forgotten since she hosted Channel 4's cult teen brand T4 - having fronted the weekends of millions of young people over the years.

    Yet her current job as a Loose Woman means she now has two very different target audiences.
  • 5ive Not Out
    5ive Not Out
    Havakuk Levison / Reuters
    00s band 5ive pulled out of so-called "Brexit gig" in Birmingham endorsed by Leave.EU campaigners.

    The band, which included in its hey-day, Richard 'Abs' Breen, Sean Conlon, Richard Neville, Jason 'J' Brown and Scott Robinson, recently reformed as a duo.

    ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

    Nonetheless, the band pulled out of a BPop Live event in Birmingham on 19 June organised by those in favour of leaving the EU.

    Their management said the event was too political. "The band have no political allegiances or opinions for either side," a statement given to the BBC read.
  • A lack of Mis-Teeq
    A lack of Mis-Teeq
    Vincent West / Reuters
    Singer Alesha Dixon also pulled out of the "Brexit gig" in Birmingham.

    The former 'Mis-Teeq' member had a huge hit with 'Scandalous' in 2003 decided she didn't want the scandal of being associated with Brexit.

    "Alesha has no political allegiances either way on this issue," a spokesperson said.
  • Young people debate with no young people
    Young people debate with no young people
    PA
    The average age of panelists in the BBC's upcoming young people's debate on the EU is 59.

    For Remain, Alan Johnson, 66, a former Labour home secretary and Alex Salmond, 61, the former leader of the SNP.

    For Leave, Diane James, 56, a Ukip spokesperson, Liam Fox, 54, former government minister, and youngest panelist.

    All will try to "relate" to young people during a debate in Glasgow.

    The BBC's Victoria Derbyshire will host and the panel will field questions from a young audience on Thursday 26 May.
  • Cringin'
    Cringin'
    Stronger IN
    Stronger IN made a strong decision to delete the letter 'g' from all of its young people campaign materials. 

    "Chillin, meetin, tourin, votin," one poster read.

    Reaction online was predictably.. searin'. 
MORE: young voters eu young voices young voters eu referendum politics

Conversations