Andrew Marr talks to Trisha Andres about his children’s book Who’s In Charge, a guide to who the great leaders are and how political systems around the world work.

POLITICS is confounding enough for adults, but for children it can seem “about as interesting and useful as banging your head against a tree”, says journalist Andrew Marr.

A recent Children’s Society poll of more than 1,000 11 to 25- year-olds revealed that eight per cent felt that politicians care about what young people think, or listen to their views.

And just 14 per cent believed that the new Government elected in Thursday’s General Election would make a positive difference to their lives.

“I really worry that we’re facing another election and as a parliamentary democracy everyone has this notion that democracy and voting are in our DNA just because we’re in Britain,” said Mr Marr.

“But the truth of the matter is, most people, let alone children, don’t quite understand or relate to the political system at all. It’s incredibly important to educate young people, whatever their political views are, as to how the system works and why – as Churchill says – ‘democracy is the worst form of government’, but still the best of a bad bunch.”

It’s especially important that children learn about politics, because ignorance can breed apathy. According to a recent survey by mobile phone price comparison website rightmobilephone.

co.uk, 36 per cent of young people aged 18-25 are not intending to visit a polling station and cast their vote.

Some 42 per cent claimed they didn’t really understand politics enough to vote, while 51 per cent said they couldn’t be bothered to take the time to go to the polling stations.

Such dismal figures prove that there is a need to encourage young people to participate, engage, and be more interested in politics, otherwise the chances of having a fully functioning parliamentary democracy in the future seems bleak.

Mr Marr hopes to tackle this issue in his new book for children, Who’s In Charge. Packed with insightful information, this well-timed book cuts through the jargon and explains the basics of politics in an engaging and accessible way.

From forms of government around the world and political ideologies, to local politics and international coalitions, Who’s In Charge gives children a broad sweep of politics that is comprehensive, but also easy to understand.

As a boy, Mr Marr had been very much involved in politics through his parents.

“When I was young, my mum and dad were involved in politics but at a very low level.

They supported the local Conservatives.

I remember going out with my mum canvassing – she used to canvas for the Tories in Scotland.”

Being a natural rebel, the first thing Mr Marr decided to do was become a Scottish nationalist.

“Mainly, it was because I really liked the badges. They had quite cool white and purple badges and I saw one on the street and picked it up. So I became a Scottish nationalist for a while then I was a leftie for a while and then I was this and that.

“My parents were very tolerant.

They would disagree with me but they would argue back, and we had a lot of political arguments around the kitchen table at home, which was great. It got me going.”

The election is predicted to be one of the closest in recent history.

Mr Marr explained: “It’s a bit like a horse race or a football match: The interesting ones are when the referee blows the first whistle and you don’t know what’s going to happen.

“We are in that situation, and so whereas over the last two to three elections it was very clear what was going to happen, this time it’s not. Therefore it’s a really good opportunity to get kids to talk about it and to encourage them to follow what’s going on.”

As the title of the book suggests, the easiest way to help children get to grips with politics is to start with who’s in charge.

“If you’re in a playground, if you’re with a group of kids playing in the park, at home – there’s always somebody giving the orders, bossing other people around and there are the ones who are bossed around.

“No matter how young you are, you can understand that. And the question is, ‘Why should this person be bossing me around, why should this person be setting the rules, who gives them the right?”

Children, Mr Marr maintains, have a natural sense of justice, an innate interest in these things and that’s really where all politics comes from.

“Get them to talk about that, and you get them on the road to following and understanding the election.”