The British government said yesterday it planned to give 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote in all UK elections in a major overhaul of the country’s democratic system.
The government said the proposed changes were part of an effort to boost public trust in democracy and would align voting rights across Britain, where younger voters already participate in devolved elections in Scotland and Wales.
“They’re old enough to go out to work, they’re old enough to pay taxes ... and I think if you pay in, you should have the opportunity to say what you want your money spent on, which way the government should go,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer told ITV News.
Globally, most countries have a voting age of 18, however in last year’s European Parliament elections European Union members were given the option to allow people to vote from the age of 16, a move taken by Germany, Belgium, Austria and Malta.
The change in Britain will require parliamentary approval, but that is unlikely to present an obstacle because the policy was part of Starmer’s election campaign last year which gave him a large majority.
Despite that win, Starmer’s popularity has fallen sharply in government after a series of missteps set against a difficult economic backdrop. His party sits second in most opinion polls behind Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK party.
A poll of 500 16 and 17-year-olds conducted by Merlin Strategy for ITV News showed 33 per cent said they would vote Labour, 20pc would vote Reform, 18pc would vote Green, 12pc Liberal Democrats and 10pc Conservative.
There are about 1.6 million 16 and 17-year-olds in the UK, according to official data. Just over 48m people were eligible to vote at the last election, in which turnout fell to its lowest since 2001. The next election is due in 2029.
Britain’s Conservative Party said the reforms were being rushed in without proper consultation and were inconsistent for young people.
“Sixteen-year-olds will be able to vote in an election but not stand as candidates, and they will be able to vote but not permitted to buy a lottery ticket, consume alcohol, marry, or go to war. This is a hopelessly confusing policy,” said Paul Holmes, Conservative spokesman on community matters.
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