Teach politics in primary school - author

Eleanor Levenson believes that despite poverty and inequality being visible to children as young as four, people in Britain still talk about politics in an ‘embarrassed way’.

When her children asked her what they were doing at a polling station last year, the Leytonstone mother-of-two was inspired to pen a book explaining the importance of a vote.

Mrs Levenson, 36, a former think tank employee, collaborated with illustrator Marek Jagucki to write about a race between the stripy and the spotty parties called The Election.

The story follows a young boy called Alex whose parents vote for the stripy party.

However, his friend Evie’s parents are supporters of the spotty party.

Mrs Levenson from Leytonstone said children are aware of the affects of politics, and should therefore be given an opportunity to understand it.

She said: “It wasn’t very hard to write because the process of deciding who is in charge is actually very easy.

“A lot of the time when we talk about politics, it is in an embarrassed way – we don’t necessarily talk about it in terms of how it impacts our lives.

“Children notice inequality around them – they want to know why some children have things and others don’t, why some children live in certain situations.

And Mrs Levenson rejects claims made by comedian and campaigner Russell Brand that voting is pointless.

"I'm not sure Russell Brand started the debate - turnout was going down long before he got involved. But I think we should all use our vote, especially if we have any views at all on how things should be run.

“The whole point of living in a democracy is that you get to have a say.

“I want children to know that it is not only worth voting if you win.

“It should be something that you learn in gradual steps. You don’t just get to 18 and understand voting.

Mrs Levenson has now opened her own publishing house, Fisherton Press, and The Election is its first publication.