The student protests - a lesson not to be missed?

Simone Webb an A Level student at Harlow College sixth form and Labour party member, currently standing for Eastern region representative on the Young Labour national committee, writes a piece in today's Guardian.

In her piece she argues that in an age where citizenship is promoted in schools and the political class often lament the lack of politicisation amongst young people the recent student protests are a positive development.

The student campaigns against cuts in the Educational Maintenance Allowance and the proposed 9K tuition fees have put young people and their views centre stage, and are a change from the last Parliament.

According to pollsters Mori, in 2005 the proportion of 18 to 24-year-olds voting fell from 39% to 37% - making them only half as likely to take part as pensioners.

Surely MPs like Charles Kennedy, 23 when he was elected; William Hague, 16 when he gave a keynote speech at Tory Party conference; and David Miliband, appointed at 41 as Foreign Secretary, would concur with her views?

What do you think?