The UK general election came to a head this morning, as it's been revealed that the Conservative party will not hold the majority.
Theresa May attempted to revitalise the Tory party by calling for a general election to prove her status as Prime Minister. Instead, in a scenario that is equivalent to David Cameron's decision to bring Brexit to a public vote, she failed.
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party, has managed to stir the young people to rise against conservative, pro-Brexit Britain increasing the Labour Party's seats to an additional 29 with 261 against the Conservative 317.
In scenes that remind us of the Marriage Equality Campaign here in Ireland, young people have gone out in droves to fight back the resurgence of right-wing conservatism in Europe. In France, after fears the country would turn into Brexit 2.0 with its candidate Marine Le Pen, the French voted for Emmanuel Macron - a Democratic President who is pro-Europe.
Today, the UK saw a rise in progressive politics as the undoubtedly future leader of the Labour Party will be Jeremy Corbyn, a left-wing politician who plants vegetables and rides a bike.
Corbyn did what no Prime Minister has managed to do in recent times - create a buzz around young British people. The only recent comparison is that of Bernie Sander's 'Feel The Burn' campaign to become a Presidential Nominee of the USA.
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"Generation snowflake" is a term that has been associated with many young people from 2010 onwards that describes young people as overly sensitive, lazy and distressed by world views that we 'deem' discriminatory - sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, Islamophobia to name a few. Although Corbyn has not become the Prime Minister, the number of seats for the party means a challenge for the Conservatives.
Over 1.5 million people between the ages of 18 - 24 have registered to vote since May called an election in April. Famous faces like Lily Allen, Ellie Goulding, Professor Green and Grimes performer JME, came out in droves to support the Labour party and Corbyn. Using channels like Snapchat, he engaged with young "snowflakes" and encouraged them to get out and vote. According to YouGov, 55% of British students said they would vote for Labour before the election.
Ironically, after forgetting Northern Ireland's recent political problems, May will unite the Democratic Unionist Party with the Conservatives after gaining permission from the Queen. The DUP party is predominantly right-wing, believe in the death penalty, are against gay marriage and abortion and have no opinion on climate change.
There's no doubt this "snowflake" generation will continue to disrupt the right-wing politics that are happening across Europe.
Here is the Twitter reaction from the UK general election:
Whatever the outcome of #UKElection2017, the way the messianic Corbyn has mobilised & inspired Britain's youth to vote has been breathtaking
— Niall McGarry (@MrNiallMcGarry) June 8, 2017
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Dear #UK please show you are smart like #France and not dumb like #America, vote for #JeremyCorbyn #UKElection2017 #UKelection
— Ayy Geeee (@Flowergarden13) June 7, 2017
I wonder if it is possible now for the young of the UK to say "we've got our country back !" #UKElection2017
— Ben de Pear (@bendepear) June 9, 2017
As we approach #UKElection2017, never forget that time Donald Trump accidentally RTed a photo of Jeremy Corbyn https://t.co/WUsd7xOxRX pic.twitter.com/vcmAv2YYAw
— Ellie Hall (@ellievhall) June 7, 2017
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#TheresaMay effectively refusing to step down!Bad Friday Agreement
— Lily (@lilyallen) June 9, 2017
#UKElection2017 #GeneralElection17 #ElectionDay #GE2017 #TheresaMay #BBCElection #HungParliament
"Here she comes pretend nobody is home" pic.twitter.com/G7J6JBth7X
— The invisible man (@invisibleman_17) June 9, 2017
