Noel Hatch, Chair of Compass Youth, responds to Jeremy Gilbert.
In his search for an "open and pluralistic network promoting progressive democratic politics", Jeremy Gilbert explores the different spaces for young people to develop a new politics, from the SWP to Young Labour, via London Citizens, Climate Camp...and Compass Youth, the organisation I'm involved in.
I got involved with Compass Youth to make real change happen with others where we live, where we study and where we work.
I didn't get involved in campaigning to choose which sides to take in the political football games going on in Westminster village. I certainly didn't get involved to put my energy into the "cycle of tokenist politics, empty rhetoric, meaningless factionalism" that is as likely to take place in SW1 as it is in the SWP.
We all see how politicians are using taxpayers' money to build houses for ducks rather than homes for people and a government preferring to attack each other than attack the recession. With Big Brother back on our screens, it's like going from one reality show to another.
