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.

I think they will go for Corbyn’s party more if leftish but could do Reform as there are SM followers

Area probably does impact

So?

And your other post, they dont suddenly turn into left wingers, but they do grow up a bit and are able to see more perspectives, thats the beauty of growing up, they're also more likely to be (hopefully) becoming more independent and less self absorbed which leads to a more social outlook. Teens by their natures are more inclined to be inward looking and one dimensional in their views. Its a developmental stage, nothing wrong with it and you grow up out of it. Mostly.

Hitchen's Razor.

All religion.

Jesus. This description of teens could equally be describing pensioners.

Strawman.

Bangers & Mash.

Because a 16 year old is a minor.

Are you really saying that, in your experience, young people in the areas you mention are not just politically engaged but actually support the Conservative Party? If so, doesn’t that suggest that 16 year olds are perfectly capable of following party politics and voting for their choice of candidate?

(I can’t recall whether you are in agreement with lowering the age or not).

Corbyn doesn’t have a party. He’s an independent MP.

About time.

I have a concern about some communities voting on behalf of their young. As happens with the women. All postal votes which are dealt with by “leaders”.

I would ban postal votes unless someone literally can’t drag themselves or be dragged to the polling station.

Giving votes to children won’t save the Labour Party from future oblivion, but Andy Burnham May save the Labour Party. If he’s ever allowed back in to the HoP. Starmer won’t let him as he’s jealous of him I expect, but it may happen. When his MoM tenure finishes. Coincidentally when Starmer loses his job. Can’t come soon enough.

No, Ive only worked with a few children who were what I would term politically engaged who were active in young labour, but generally many young people have views that I would describe as on the right, not very pro benefits etc seeing women or homosexual in a less than positive way at times, conversely there are often mixtures of some immigrant groups being anti other immigrant groups and not wanting them to come to the UK and some white British groups being generally anti immigrant. So no political affiliation as such but views expressed during discussion are not overly positive about difference and others.

The cohorts I work with are vulnerable, disadvantaged, usually discriminated against, damaged and are much more likely to believe in right wing narratives either because their lives are not great or because they come from countries which espouse those views as a matter of course and dont believe in state support. Often what children say in school, in order to say 'the right thing' is not really what they believe.

For the 4th time, perhaps, lost count, this is not my reason for not agreeing with a lowered voting age. I was just giving my experience of young people I work with, as others have found too and suggested Reform would get their votes and I agreed.

If Tory voters want Andy Burnham as leader I can’t think of a better reason for him to stay in Manchester.

itsnotabouthepasta · Today 11:07 For those who believe it's wrong, why is a 87 year old's opinion on the coming 4-5 years more valid than a 16 year old?

Or, indeed, less valid? Seriously, I live in an area which has been hugely disadvantaged by Brexit: almost all the "Proud Brexiteers" are under 50.

Giving votes to children won’t save the Labour Party from future oblivion

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/07/17/seats-labour-teenage-voters-steal-from-reform-next-election/

Do Tory voters want AB as leader? Interesting.

😂 touched a nerve?

Not particularly. I thought this was a debate not the Absentmindedsmile show.

Such wit.

There was someone on PM this evening who provided some quite nuanced analysis of the potential impact of 16 and 16 year olds having the vote - in short, it's unlikely to affect any but the most marginal seats as there are not that many and they are less likely to vote, so the impact will be in the order of magnitude of tenths of one percent.

Analysis suggests that this group on the whole skew left, but with a significant subset of them leaning Reform, so again a mixed picture.

We can all stop frothing now and just get over it.

Where would the fun be in that.

Labour implements manifesto promise doesn't make a sensational headline

Here’s a recent poll

The survey, conducted by pollsters Find Out Now, indicates that a Corbyn-Sultana party could significantly dent Labour’s share of the vote.

Of the 650 people polled, 15% said they would support the new party, matching Labour’s 15% share.

The greatest level of support for a potential new party comes from those aged 18–29, with 33% saying they would back a new left-wing party — ahead of Reform UK (24%) and Labour (18%).

It’s quite amusing that people say they’d vote for a non existent party with no policies. Presumably they’re all over 18 too. Oh, I see they are.