There are a high proportion of baby boomers and even more pre and second world war generations that seem to vote in a more right wing and reactionary way. This applies to Brexit, to voting for the Tories / and now Reform, voting for Trump and across the board in Europe. This has led to some negative generalisations in the media, the commentariat, as well as among pollsters and political strategists that all old people are right wing racists.
However there is still a significant minority that have kept to their 60s and 70s backgrounds and either vote for or are activists in leftist parties and more so in local organisations and campaigns.
For example there are now a sizeable number of older climate crisis activists including one 80 year old now in prison for peaceful protest. The number of still active trade unionists and retired members who continue to fight for workers rights and still many who are active in the Labour Party, Lib Dems and Greens.
This is hardly surprising when there were many more in trade unions and who supported the miners strike than is currently the case, plus there were many of us who were part of major progressive movements like the women's movement, the black movement and the gay liberation movement.
At community levels many were involved in the Claimants and Unemployed movements as well as the mass squatting that took place.
As someone who has been actively campaigning on behalf of older people I can affirm that there are many older people, including academics, teachers, doctors and health workers as well as those from Local government and from age organisations who attend and engage in research, advocacy and practical on the ground activities and who have fought for continued free local transport, continued winter fuel allowance and automatic pension credit enrolment for those many pensioners who are near or below the poverty line.
While there are over 20% of pensioners who are millionaires there are 2 million in poverty and many more just above the poverty line for whom heat or eat is a genuine worry.
As our society becomes increasingly unequal this division applies to all ages and the senior generations of older workers and pensioners also shows extremes of wealth and income. The argument that all older people are rich, house and job blocking the young does not add up. There are 1.2 million pensioners in work ( mainly part time) most of whom out of necessity. But like older members of the workforce - who face increasing ageism as they get older- they actually lead to increased profitability and productivity and their presence often contributes to improved job satisfaction and retention and help produce a more positive climate that leads to more younger people being employed. Many older householders would like to downsize if they could find suitable smaller accommodation and be near to their children and families but there is little suitable housing and support to be able to achieve this.
In addition the massive reduction in public services provision has particularly affected the young and old alike, with the closures of libraries, community and public leisure / sports centres , the absence of toilets, facilities in parks, clean water, working transport services, high energy prices and now high rents.
All of these things older people of different persuasions have come together with younger ones to fight against closures and to keep public services open and funded. Likewise from all political backgrounds the majority of carers are 50+ and without pensioners there would be no volunteering going on.
Yes there are unfortunately too many seniors who through past prejudice, reliance on right wing media and of ignorance do have more racist, homophobic and anti muslim attitudes than younger ones, but they are getting smaller in number . There is clear evidence that where there are diverse cultures side by side there is greater tolerance and that often it is in places with limited numbers of non white English born people that show higher levels of hard right voters. Yes there are hard right clusters boosted by racist activists and a right wing media and it is often where there is a rapid rise in newly arrived foreigners without the additional housing, schools and medical resources to meet the current let alone new needs but these attitudes are more based on common deprivation and poverty and shortages and apply to all ages. If things improve for all generations the hopefully this will lead to a more integrated economy and society but please remember that age is not the problem and if properly treated and respected older people are part of the solution
Chris Walsh
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