If young people make a stand on Saturday something good can finally come of this Brexit mess

We are in newspapers, on television, and all over social media. We are increasingly an equal part of the debate. All of this, and the catalyst was Brexit

“Everything happens for a reason.” It’s a cliché we’ve all heard, but one that I’ve always hoped to be true. Logically, I know it to be nonsense, but it can provide comfort in some of the most challenging times. It can even give a glimmer of optimism that wonderful things can come from the aftermath of a disaster – even one as pointless and self-inflicted as Brexit.

What reason could there possibly be for this humiliating omnishambles? Every day the situation goes from bad to worse. In 2016, we were promised “the easiest trade deal in human history”. We were told we could remain in the customs union and the single market, that we could have a relationship with the EU like Norway or Switzerland.

And yet, we are now staring down the barrel of a no deal exit from the EU – levelled at us by our own government and their futile attempts to pander to both the DUP and ERG. If this is allowed to happen, our economy will crash. There will be food shortages. An insufficient supply of medicines and medical isotopes will likely lead to avoidable deaths.

All of this, and so much more, for no discernible benefits.

But while Brexit itself is, and will always be, an existential threat to our politics, our economy, and our society, it has brought at least one reason to be hopeful. Rising to meet that threat is my generation: young people whose futures have been so often overlooked.

I have been quite open about the fact that when I was younger, I was apathetic with respect to politics. I saw a system that didn’t represent my views and so, despite voting, engaging seemed futile.

In hindsight it was a poor position to have held. It is now obvious to me that politicians will always seek to engage with those who are most likely to vote. Nevertheless, it wasn’t until the days following the 2016 referendum that I realised I needed to do more, and recent events have only compounded those feelings.

I have not been alone in coming to this decision. Young people from all corners of the country have realised that if we stand up and make ourselves heard then we can make change happen. And we’re standing up. We have led marches through London. We have lobbied our MPs at Westminster. We are in newspapers, on television, and all over social media. We are increasingly an equal part of the debate. All of this, and the catalyst was Brexit.

As young people, we care about so much more than Brexit: climate change; rising levels of poverty and inequality; the creeping privatisation and inadequate funding of the NHS – these are just some of the issues that resonate strongly with our generation. But we have to win this fight first.

We are reaching the endgame – or perhaps the end of the beginning. It feels like we have one last chance to play our part in preventing the chaos. This Saturday 19 October, we will be marching once again in what promises to be one of the largest protests to descend upon Westminster. Just 12 days before we’re due to leave the EU with or without a deal, this will be the most important opportunity to demonstrate how you feel. I’m going to be there, surrounded by thousands of my peers: because this is an issue that is too important to sit out.