These people persuading their parents to change their vote will restore your faith in humanity

General elections can be tough on families, with generational divides causing a fair few arguments.

In the UK, you’re statistically more likely to vote Conservative if you’re older, and more likely to vote Labour if you’re younger. Of course this is by no means a blanket rule and lots of other factors can be indicators of voting intention, but age is among the most striking.

Here’s a bar chart which illustrates the age split.

Given the disparity between old and young, many people have been getting in touch with older relatives to convince them to vote differently. After all, what’s the harm in trying?

indy100 spoke to people who said they’d tried to change an older relative’s mind, with varying degrees of success…

Tactical voting confuses people.

"I called my dad who was confused as to what tactical voting was! Turns out it confuses loads of people! Had a chat and now he’s much more informed and will be voting to try and get a Labour seat!"

– Sam, 25, London.

I convinced my mum not to abandon Labour.

"My mum is a lifelong anti-Conservative and would never vote for them, but she's so unhappy with Jeremy Corbyn and some of the people around him that for the first time she was planning not to vote Labour, and either vote Lib Dem or abstain. We had a chat and I let her know she was in a Labour/Conservative key marginal seat, with no other parties having any chance, and that the Labour candidate seemed good and decent. She's now voting Labour – even though I admitted I won't be, since I live in a safe seat."

–​ James, 32, London.

My dad is sticking with Labour in a marginal seat –​ thanks to me.

"Convinced my grandad to vote Labour instead of Lib Dem. Was horrified to hear last week after being an active trade unionist and lifelong socialist that he was voting Lib Dem of all the parties so quickly changed him back over to Labour, especially as he lives in Southport – a very marginal seat."

–​ ​Cate, London.

Speaking to my parents about politics is always uncomfortable.

"Being 28 I've had several attempts at this over the years. It never works and just ends up with an uncomfortable situation. I am tempted to drop a message in the family chat and run tomorrow morning, though!"

–​ ​Charlie, 28, Ipswich.

My Tory dad is now backing Dominic Grieve.

"I think I convinced my dad to vote for Dominic Grieve instead of the conservative candidate with the idea that there is no ‘risk’ of majority Labour government. He is scared of what Corbyn would want to do given the power, and so was planning to vote Tory, but seemed also interested in the idea of a liberal centre-left coalition that was slightly less radical due to the tempering effect of coalition. So I guess he hadn’t thought about the fact that a hard Corbyn government wasn’t really on the table and so he can vote freely against Boris without the perceived risks of full fat Corbyn."

–​ ​Tim, 27, London.

After lots of persuading, my Leaver mum is backing Labour.

"My parents and grandparents all voted Leave in the 2016 referendum. Last month when I was home we went for fish and chips and I said I hoped she wouldn’t vote Tory. It turned into a very long time of me trying to explain just how depressing politics feels at the minute, and the fact that there’s a feeling of hopelessness for a lot of people my generation. After a bit more back and forth about her being totally disillusioned and me saying that, even if she’s disillusioned, a Tory majority is the worst possible outcome for me and my generation, she agreed to vote Labour – for I think the first time ever."

–​ Maddy, 26, London

Our discussions go round in circles.

"I've tried but sadly there's absolutely no chance of changing their minds. The Daily Mail is gospel to them. Our discussions go round and round in circles."

– Tom, 26 Liverpool.

Not all heroes wear capes.

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