Voting age to be lowered to 16 by next general election

[dandywarhol]

From my experience most 16/17 year olds know everything.

[Pedro de la Rosa]

From my experience most 16/17 year olds know everything.

And the grown ups running the country have done a great job...

[Pedro de la Rosa]

I think it's a good thing, it should incentive parties to actually give a toss about young people rather than pandering solely to the pensioners who have a vice like grip on every single policy in this country

[splott parker]

Wanna play a game of comparing data now to data before the referendum? As shit as things may seem now, 2008-2015 was a much more difficult time.

What’s that got to do with it? It’s now that matters. At this moment we’d be better off in the EU than outside looking in. Obstacles being put in our way re. travel/holidays etc. The lies about illegal immigration at that time that’s getting a lot of people’s backs up now. Dangerous people like Farage unbelievably gaining popularity, multi millionaires & billionaires seemingly running the show, right wing media in the UK constantly stirring shite. Together Stronger is a better motto than standing alone.

Right wing fascism in the UK is a worry, no matter how much it’s dressed up.

[Rjk]

My eldest is 15 now and I would absolutely trust him to make a sensible decision at an election - it may well be different from the one I would make, but it would be coming from themselves, not from me or any online influencers.

My other two are 11 and 13 - and the idea of either of them both voting at the next election potentially is entirely worrying.

[Chilled of Llanishen]

Great idea letting children vote! May as well let 12 years olds as well.

[Chilled of Llanishen]

As regards the EU they didn't like us when we were in and now we're out they hate us.
They only like our money.

[Hilts]

I think it's a good thing, it should incentive parties to actually give a toss about young people rather than pandering solely to the pensioners who have a vice like grip on every single policy in this country

This.

[Rjk]

As regards the EU they didn't like us when we were in and now we're out they hate us.
They only like our money.

The UK were one of the major players in the EU, the idea that all the other member nations were all mates together and hated the UK is laughable borderline-xenophobic nonsense that you used to see spewed over the pages of the daily mail every morning.

[lardy]

The UK were one of the major players in the EU, the idea that all the other member nations were all mates together and hated the UK is laughable borderline-xenophobic nonsense that you used to see spewed over the pages of the daily mail every morning.

The EU was obviously playing 4D reverse chess mind games reverse psychology when they spoke about wanting the UK to remain.

[Dorcus]

The EU was obviously playing 4D reverse chess mind games reverse psychology when they spoke about wanting the UK to remain.

Unfortunately there's still some lingerers who haven't woken up and smelled the coffee. Happily they are a dwindling band nowadays.

[jon1959]

Too low in my opinion. I think a basic principle is that you have lived a life outside of school and in the world of work before you vote. Obviously nowadays most haven't actually left education at 16 but there is a hell of a lot of living done in the years 16-18.

I also have concerns, as I think it's very open to parental influence at that age.

Also creates inconsistencies with other parts of the law. If a 17 year old is too young to face trial for a murder as they are deemed a child, then why are they capable of making informed decisions about politics, society, the economy etc.

Don't see any need to change it

You are a Reform supporter now, aren't you James? And would have voted Trump if you were in the USA last election and eligible?

The days of Respect and 'Gorgeous George' Galloway are long behind you.

I see your argument about experiencing life outside school before being allowed to vote. An interesting standard you have set there.

What is your opinion about Reform selecting an 18 year old brand new councillor to head Warwickshire County Council and its £500m annual budget?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyq62072q9o.amp

[Parti Mellow]

It's a shame it wasn't introduced before the Brexit vote, so more people would've forgotten to turn up.

[lardy]

Too low in my opinion. I think a basic principle is that you have lived a life outside of school and in the world of work before you vote. Obviously nowadays most haven't actually left education at 16 but there is a hell of a lot of living done in the years 16-18.

I also have concerns, as I think it's very open to parental influence at that age.

Also creates inconsistencies with other parts of the law. If a 17 year old is too young to face trial for a murder as they are deemed a child, then why are they capable of making informed decisions about politics, society, the economy etc.

Don't see any need to change it

You also do lots of living between 18 and 21, and from 21 to 25, people change the whole way through their lives.

[Dorcus]

Bloody hell nearly 10 years on and remoaners are still wetting the bed

9 years on in fact and us "Remoaners" are still aghast at the crass stupidity of it. Still, when you think about it 9 years is nothing when you consider historians still bemoan the idiocy of the Charge of the Light Brigade and that was about 170 years ago 😂

[Canton Kev]

There are fckwits who are 60 and fckwits who are 16. The “stupid and irresponsible” kids aren’t going to be the ones going out to vote. The ones that can be bothered to vote will probably almost all have an informed opinion of who they’re voting for and why.

[ToTaL ITK]

The only reason it's being introduced is because the stats show that the majority of people at that age are Labour voters.

perfectly good reason in my opinion.

[Trigger]

Right wing fascism in the UK is a worry, no matter how much it’s dressed up.

Would be a worry anywhere and at any time.

It's not really what's happening though is it, no more so than the extreme left. What most people lazily call fascism these days is just right wing.

It's good to have left, centre and right wing politics. It's just sad that these days you can't seem to debate topics like the migrant crisis without being labelled a fascist or racist.

[North Cardiff Blue]

Great idea 👍 a shame it wasn't introduced before the Brexit vote

90% of em won't bother

[North Cardiff Blue]

My eldest is 15 now and I would absolutely trust him to make a sensible decision at an election - it may well be different from the one I would make, but it would be coming from themselves, not from me or any online influencers.

My other two are 11 and 13 - and the idea of either of them both voting at the next election potentially is entirely worrying.

They vote for what benefits them the most, the same as the rest of us, that's the 10% that can be arsed to vote, and they will believe all the AI-produced political nonsense on social media.

[Underhill1980]

90% of em won't bother

I can’t blame them, I’m 45 and voted all my life, I won’t be voting again. Promise after promise followed by lie after lie. Self serving liars, all of them

[William Treseder]

Only if they can vote by Phone!!!, i don't think it's a bad idea TBH on reflection, too many oldies have too much influence in a world where one foot is already in the grave and do not suffer the consequences of their actions.

Why don’t we just bump those old pests off, then the youngsters will have a free rein. What age would you suggest we start at?

[JamesWales]

Would be a worry anywhere and at any time.

It's not really what's happening though is it, no more so than the extreme left. What most people lazily call fascism these days is just right wing.

It's good to have left, centre and right wing politics. It's just sad that these days you can't seem to debate topics like the migrant crisis without being labelled a fascist or racist.

Exactly, and how someone can use that as a reason to be in the EU, when some genuinely far-right parties would be voting on our own laws in a parliament dominated by Conservative parties for decades is absolutely beyond me. Especially nine years after the event!

[JamesWales]

You are a Reform supporter now, aren't you James? And would have voted Trump if you were in the USA last election and eligible?

The days of Respect and 'Gorgeous George' Galloway are long behind you.

I see your argument about experiencing life outside school before being allowed to vote. An interesting standard you have set there.

What is your opinion about Reform selecting an 18 year old brand new councillor to head Warwickshire County Council and its £500m annual budget?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyq62072q9o.amp

I'm not sure what my voting biography has to do with it, but sure. My left-wing days are behind me, at least until the Left represent British working class values again some day.

Well, he's too young really isn't he. But I would imagine he's a figure head, but he is certainly a curious one. I'm sure we all wish him luck though.

[Wales-Bales]

I think only Labour voters should be allowed to vote.