16 & 17 year olds to be given the vote

[Whereishenow]

Just seen this announcement on BBC now. Amazing news!!! Now we just need to try and get youngsters out USING those votes.

It's not an obvious conclusion at all. It's a ridiculous conclusion.

Exactly this. In addition, they have no life experience of earning a living or being taxed. They don't make or receive any contribution from our economy so why are they able or allowed to dictate it? It is utterly ridiculous and a blatant attempt to win votes and nothing more.

"Children" have been allowed to vote where i live for almost 10 years one of my dc were amongst the first group of 16/17 year olds to vote, imo engaged voters of any age will vote others won't it will be fine Englad won't fall because a teenager made a choice.

It's a fair question, a 16 year old is either a legal adult with the rights and responsibilities of one or not

Nor do 18 year olds have much experience.

Awful idea. Schools often run mock elections with kids representing the different parties, they did at my school in the 90's and they did at my son's school. They can learn about the system without being in the real thing.

Everyone at my school voted for the boy who was most fancied and most admired, the party he was representing was neither here nor there.

Absolutely ridiculous. 🙄 The voting age should have been put UP - to 21. Not dropped to 16. They're still at school at 16, and know NOTHING about life, economics, finances, politics, what's going on in the news..... How incredibly silly to let children vote. Good grief!

Why? They have some now and not others. 21 year olds have some now (living wage) and not others. It seems harder and harder for people to accept nuance.

I agree that Reform will do well out of this. There is a lot of evidence that they're doing well with boys and young men in general.

I think lots will also vote Green or similar.

I abhor Reform but still support 16 and 17 yos having the vote.

Probably because they have been indoctrinated at school on green policies
/how we are destroying the planet.

Not because they actually have to pay the electricity bill to achieve net zero.

@itsnotabouthepasta many ADULTS at various points across the lifespan voting choices will be impacted by their lived/living experience. Quite rightly it influences how they will vote. The same cannot be said for CHILDREN who are likely to have not even exited the education system yet.

We absolutely cannot have it both ways. Children are either children (and if so we recognise with that the facts around brain and cognitive development, and emotional maturity) or they are adults and as such we should change many structures and systems in our society which follow the science and suggest otherwise

Then they are perfectly ready to vote in our absurd system.

16 year olds can pay tax, join the forces and get married/have kids. They are the generation that are going to be most affected by the decisions being made around housing, immigration, education and jobs; how well they do will also have a direct effect on the rest of us who will depend on their success to support us as we age. why shouldn't they vote?

Why do you think they are 'brain washed' anyway?

If you’re willing for them to be taxed, you have to be willing to give them a voice.

I agree. This is likely Labour further cementing their single term in office but let's see how it plays out in Wales next year.

Then why bother saying they’ll be giving the vote to non citizens next then?

Once people reach the statutory retirement age, vote worth should be downgraded to be worth half a vote.

Maybe also time to lower the credit age limit? If they can vote and work and have children, they should be able to buy a house to provide for their families.

As you say there are many well informed 16/17 year olds that take a huge interest in politics, more so than adults.

It's about the cohort as a whole though, not certain individuals.

This will surely have to lead to 16 year olds being responsible for all aspects of their lives and some of them just don't seem to be up to it.
Signing a contract, driving, getting a job, marrying, dealing with teachers, not requiring parental permission for anything. It's kind of fair enough as infantile teenagers annoy the shit out of me, but it's going to be very hard for some parents to step back.

Wow. Labour aren’t embarrassed by anything they do are they. Anything to try and keep in power. SHUDDER.

What are the figures for tax being paid by 16 and 17 year olds?

That's not a reason to lower the voting age.

The clue is in the second sentence I wrote, if you read it.

Straw man. 🙄 The vast VAST majority of 16-17 year olds will NOT be married and have kids. And most will not be 'in the forces.' And the vast majority will not be paying tax. They will still be at bloody school!