Citadel Christmas Calendar

“Citadel was founded in 2005, rooted in public policy with a wealth of 30 years’ experience in communications and campaigns; specialist in youth policy, education and skills. Including 15 years hosting over 1,000 young people and charities at the party conferences, for youth voice and political engagement.”

“2 King’s Speeches, in 2023 and 2024, with King Charles III who had also read the last Queen’s Speech when the Prince of Wales.”

“This year’s speech announced 40 Bills for primary legislation, including Children’s Wellbeing – to put children and their wellbeing at the centre of education and social care, and ensure children are safe, healthy, happy and treated fairly.”

Since 2000 there have been:

• 19 Education and Skills Acts including reform of children’s services;
• under 18 Secretaries of State for Education & Skills.

“3 national referenda since 2000 that shape our nation today, related to sovereignty, devolution and independence:

• 2016: Brexit, UK
• 2014: Independence, Scotland
• 2011 Devolution, Wales

“Each resulted in seismic changes, albeit ‘a once in a generation’ ballot has not settled the question of the state of the Union and Scotland’s independence, and the realities of Brexit bite into the UK economy.”

“It’s worth recalling that 73% of 18-24 year olds voted to remain in the EU. While around 100,000 16-17 year olds voted for the first time in the Scottish referendum polling shows 71% voted for independence, but this falls to less than 50% when adding in 18-25 year olds.”

“A fourth referendum rejected changes for our voting system: 2011 Alternative Vote, UK.”

“There have been 4 Police & Crime Commissioner elections (England & Wales). With PCCs formed in 2012 and subsequent elections in 2016, 2021 and 2024, only 2 have served continuously since 2012: Sussex and Suffolk. In 2024 of 37 PCCs, 19 are Conservative, 17 are Labour and 1 Plaid Cymru.”

“There are 5 government missions with cross-cutting goals launched in 2024:

• Clean Energy
• Highest G7 Growth
• Opportunity for All
• Safer Streets
• Future of the NHS

Re-set by the Prime Minister this month with the 5 missions turned into 6 so-called milestones by which the government will be judged at the next general election:

• Raising living standards in every part of the UK;
• Rebuilding Britain with 1.5m homes in England and fast-tracking planning decisions;
• Ending hospital backlogs;
• Putting police back on the beat;
• Giving the children the best start in life;
• Securing home-grown energy.

“There were 6 MPs first elected when 25 years old or younger, each known as the ‘Baby of the House’, since 2000. Sam Carling MP was elected at 22 in 2024; the youngest ever MP was Mhairi Black aged 20 (2015-24).”

“With 7 elections between 2000-24, young people 16-17 years old were not entitled to vote. Yet 7 elections did take place with young people voting. Votes at 16 was first established in Scotland for the 2014 independence referendum and subsequent local and Scottish Parliament elections, and since 2020 for Wales. Reducing the voting age to 16 was included in Labour’s 2024 manifesto, but is not included in the 2024 Kings Speech.”

“8 Prime Ministers since 2000. The longest serving PM is Tony Blair first elected in 1997 to 2007; the shortest is Liz Truss of just 7 weeks in 2022. Over the last 9 years we had 5 Conservative Prime Ministers, including 2 women, the first British Asian PM, and 2 old Etonians.”

“9 years of a Conservative Government: elected as a majority government in 2015 and subsequent elections on 2017 and 2019. The party also shared power in Coalition with the Liberal Democrats 2010-2015. In 2024 we saw the election of a Labour Prime Minister after 14 years in Opposition.”

“Young people born since 2000 have grown up only knowing austerity, the pandemic and cost of living crisis. Two financial crises and the economic downturn post-Brexit have been overseen by 10 Chancellors, and resulted in £1 billion a year spending cuts to youth services over a decade.”

“The latest reset to the economy is being run by the first ever female Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, with the 2024 Budget and Spending Review planned for spring 2025.”

“Since 2000 there have been 11 government Ministers responsible for youth policy sitting in the House of Commons, excluding one Minister who lasted just 48 hours!”

“Two more sat in the House of Lords. But only 5 had youth or young people in their ministerial title, and only one had dedicated role exclusive to youth policy: Dawn Butler, Minister for Young Citizens and Youth Engagement, a role held for just 6 months prior to the 2010 General election. A churn of ministers and too often a lack of focus for young people and youth voice in government.”

“There are 12 city regions with directly elected mayors each with devolved powers, and a total of 19 mayors elected since 2000. And a Devolution Bill coming in this Parliament for the English regions.”