UK government to lower voting age to 16 before next national election despite strong conservative opposition

The United Kingdom is lowering the voting age from to before the next national elections a move which opposition figures decry as a way to sway the electorate to benefit the left The U K administration controlled by the Labour Party informed Thursday that - and -year-olds will be given the right to vote as part of other new seismic changes Other polling reforms include extending voter ID to bank cards issuing new rules meant to guard against foreign political interference and abuse of campaigners and tightening laws restricting foreign donations to British political parties In an accompanying guidelines paper included in the announcement Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner noted that declining trust in our institutions and democracy itself has become critical but it is the responsibility of leadership to turn this around and renew our democracy just as generations have done before us UKRAINE'S ZELENSKYY NAMES NEW PRIME MINISTER FOR FIRST TIME SINCE RUSSIA'S WAR BEGAN I think it's really essential that - and -year-olds have the vote because they're old enough to go out to work they're old enough to pay taxes so to pay in And I think if you pay in you should have the opportunity to say what you want your money spent on which way the cabinet should go British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described reporters on Thursday I'm really pleased that we're able to bring more young people into our democracy Young people already contribute to society by working paying taxes and serving in the military It's only right they can have a say on the issues that affect them Rayner wrote on X The deputy prime minister also elaborated in a comment adding We cannot take our democracy for granted and by protecting our elections from abuse and boosting participation we will strengthen the foundations of our society for the future The minimum age of function in the British Armed Forces is but those under need written consent from a parent or guardian and may not be deployed to combat zones British opposition politicians accused the Labour Party of trying to manipulate the electorate in their favor by lowering the voting age Why does this regime think a year old can vote but not be allowed to buy a lottery ticket or an alcoholic drink marry or go to war or even stand in the elections they re voting Member of Parliament MP Paul Holmes a conservative announced in the House of Commons on Thursday Isn t the ruling body s position on the age of maturity just hopelessly confused UK TO ROLL OUT RED CARPET IN UNPRECEDENTED SECOND TRUMP VISIT HOSTED BY KING CHARLESHolmes accused Labour of governing by press release and questioned whether allowing bank cards which do not include photographs as a form of voter ID will undermine guard measures at the ballot box Nigel Farage leader of the right-wing Improvement UK Party commented giving - and -year-olds the right to vote is an attempt to rig the political system The predicament with this is not only do half of youngsters not want the vote but they have to stay at school now until they're Farage reported in a video shared to X The educational establishment is full of left-wing prejudice is full of anti-reform bias and frankly if to year olds at school are going to be able to vote we're going to have to make sure that our mentoring system is teaching kids to make their own minds up and not indoctrinating them The change still requires parliamentary approval but was a campaign promise by the Labour Party which won last year's general voting and holds majority control The next general voting process is in Rayner noted that - and -year-olds can already vote in Scotland and Wales in local elections and country-level parliamentary elections The minimum voting age for local elections in England and Northern Ireland is In an opinion piece in the British newspaper The Times Rayner who was a single mother at the age of explained the change makes million - and -year-olds eligible to vote in the United Kingdom which has a population of roughly million This is about fairness and transparency and giving the young a stake in our country s future bringing them into our communities not excluding them Rayner wrote It s about delivering on our manifesto to commitment to secure votes at But it s also about strengthening our electoral system so that it is fit for the st century because we cannot take our democracy for granted