Rise written by Liam Young, reads as part political essay part memoir, offering both an insight into and a rallying cry to join, the youth movement which has been invigorated by Jeremy Corbyn following his rise to the Labour leadership in September 2015.

Mr Corbyn’s ascendancy and (to date) survival has defied mainstream political commentary. Rise goes some way to explaining Mr Corbyn’s continued leadership of Labour and how his support has managed some significant political success, despite the unrelenting mainstream criticism. The author does this by drawing on events and trends leading into the current political climate and in particular, the factors that have contributed to young people becoming more politically active.

Many of those factors are widely known in outline, but Liam Young provides insights into the noted quirks of why this group votes the way it does and for example, why so many young people have gathered around a much older leader who doesn’t always share their exact views.

However, Rise is not just the story of Jeremy Corbyn; it is a look at the increasing involvement of young people in politics and how they have organised themselves, voted and ultimately viewed recent key issues.

One interesting insight is the examination of a political movement that prioritises ideals over institutions. This goes some way to understanding the distrust or scepticism of young people toward institutions like the EU whilst simultaneously admiring its ideals of inclusivity. This too helps to explain why established media can continue to criticise Corbyn and his supporters and still struggle to unseat them from leadership of the Labour Party.

Whether or not Corbyn or the Momentum movement will prove to be a transformational political force in the UK, remains to be seen but it is fair to say Young offers a unique and intriguing portrayal of today’s youth politics and for this reason alone, I would suggest it is worth a read.

Favourite book: Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett

Favourite childhood book: Various of Grimms’ Fairy Tales

by Michael Crowther, Paralegal at Raworths

See Liam Young live in Harrogate on Sunday 21st October for his event ‘Rise’. Book Online Here or call the Box Office on 01423 562303.