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.

Really? Look up a few posts above this one and you'll see a post complaining that this is just to get more votes for Labour. There are many such on this thread.

I am going with the analysis I heard yesterday which suggests this change won't make much difference, and that this new group is likely to skew somewhat left but have a substantial Reform component. I am fine with that, this is a democracy.

Tbf you’re more fixated on the Cons I’ve said this before. I rarely post about them whereas you do.

Time to move on. I’m anyone but Labour these days. I’m ready to hear what Corbyn has to say too. Shake it up I say.

Lol, that's pretty funny, considering I never wanted to widen the debate into other inconsistencies that may exist in the first place. One at a time for me.

FTR I'll let you know what my definition of a weak argument or weak policy is.

It's a policy that can't be justified, and/or creates further inconsistencies in a system which is already inconsistent.

Nothing at all, but if you're arguing against the vote at 16 on the grounds of brain issues, then that should also apply to people who are floridly psychotic and unmedicated. I am trying to illustrate how illogical the position of the antis is, not advocating disenfranchising anyone.

@EasternStandard are you for it because it gives young people a vote or because it will backfire on labour?

Really? You ve been quite focal in your support for Badenoch until quite recently.

For me, the Tories are dead, Reform is the opposition in the country now, if not yet in Parliament.

Lol, that's pretty funny, considering I never wanted to widen the debate into other inconsistencies that may exist in the first place. One at a time for me.

Why argue about inconsistencies when we already have them? what's the point?

It's a policy that can't be justified, and/or creates further inconsistencies in a system which is already inconsistent

So inconsistencies that exist are ok but adding more is bad

Fantastic, I look forward to more insightful comments 😆

I don’t post about KB much but I don’t think it’s down to her, and she does as well as anyone would. I think any leader of the Cons would be struggling at the same rate.

Reform has too much resonance atm no matter who their leader is.

I’m anyone but Labour these days.

Really, I thought you were on the fence. It's not always clear in your posts! 😆

Why. The system was fine before.

They seem to be really keen on Corbyn now, which is a surprise to me!

Well you did get it wrong earlier so maybe it’s a you thing.

But yeh I’ll be glad if there’s more options and 16 / 17 year olds vote. Bring it on.

Hardly, low voter turn out in the lower age groups for starters, Govt policy directed towards age groups who do vote.

Get people involved politics at an early age and it tends to stay with them.

Labour got a majority of around 140, with just 33% of the vote, Boris a majority of 80 on just 44% of the vote.... we need reform of our voting system, this should just be the start.

I was being facetious @EasternStandard
I thought it was obvious!

‘They’ who’s that then?

And yep give young people some hope when they vote. I’m going to listen to. I assume Labour have your loyalty but you do you.

Oh you don’t say. You still got it wrong. Are you more wedded to Labour would you say?

Through greater experience.

Why argue about inconsistencies when we already have them? what's the point?

Because we should strive to reduce them where possible so we can justify why the system is the way it is ? Otherwise law becomes a bit of a mess and lawmakers cannot even justify why they are making policy to the electorate (maybe why you are having a hard time). Striving to reduce them doesn't equate to tackling them all at once, but it does equate to not increasing the number of them needlessly.

"So inconsistencies that exist are ok"

Can you point out where I said that ? You are mistaken if you think I think that.

So inconsistencies that exist are ok but adding more is bad

No I don't think inconsistencies that exist are OK, I don't understand why you believe that. I certainly believe adding more is bad. Because it shows a lack of thought and a lack of justification on policy implementation. Maybe sometimes adding them can be a means to an end. But in that case they should be even more simple to justify.

The thing is that people will tend to vote in a way that benefits them, so, regardless of experience, that older person is much more likely to vote for something they can get something out of than for another party that will be beneficial for someone starting out in life.

This thread is lovely. It’s giving the Labour loyalists / Labour mafia another thread from which to feed. Galvanise. Rather than a thread where they all agree with each other. Bit of variety.

Not greater experience of the world as it is now. An 87 year old was born during the war, was a young adult in the 1950s and retired in the last century. Their understanding of the world as it is in 2025 is negligible.

Well I don't know if you are male or female, hence "they".

In all seriousness, you want to see Labour destroyed and seem really keen to have a Reform government. I hope you don't regret it if you do get one.

I am not keen on some of what Labour is doing, it has gone too far to the right. I will still vote Labour (or even Conservative if I have to!)in a GE to keep Reform out. In my home country elections I will vote for the party I feel most closely aligns with my values as we have PR. Thank God.

I’m feeling good about the option of a new party to the left. I think Labours policies are poor, but thought that pre GE.

‘She’ isn’t much better btw you can post directly on a thread if you want a view.

Outside my view on Labour I want a further left party to invigorate younger people to be engaged. I pretty much always post positively re teens, ime they are pretty good and I’ll be glad to see them feel they have someone to vote for. But as pp said it might be left or Reform, it’s up to them.

@GasPanic

I think you would label that long response as misdirection 🥱

I’m feeling good about the option of a new party to the left

Oh come on. Be honest. You want a Corbyn party because you want to see the Labour support split, not because you want to "invigorate younger people to be engaged". You have posted your glee about the prospect of a split in Labour support on this very thread!