Why would anyone think 16 year-olds should be allowed to vote?

[MsAmerica]

Be honest - think back to when you were 16. Did you have an understanding of a broad range of issues? Did you pay serious attention to national news? Okay, even many adults may lapse on the score, but still, it seems crazy to me.

In the U.S., voting age had been 21 and the only reason it was lowered to 18 was that teens were being drafted to fight in Vietnam, and it was felt as unfair for them to have no say.

For me, yes, even if that helped Reform

Reform are odds on favourite for forming the next Government (have been for some time), but interestingly the odds for them winning the next election increased to 11/10 (Labour is 11/8) after the announcement so I guess the data suggests a slight bump for Reform. I still think Labour thought it would help them though.

For PR? I think I got confused.

@pointythings.said she wanted PR as well as votes for 16 year olds. Does she want PR even on the basis it would help Reform? I suppose for consistency, yes would have to be her answer.

I would expect Reform to do well with 16 year olds. If they are as switched on politically as people say in this thread, then they won't vote against their interests and vote Labour. Keir Starmer has the air and voice of a geography teacher so he will be ruled out. Plus teenagers are often rebels. They might vote for the party everyone is warning them against. It will be fascinating to see when it happens

Without PR. I meant the announcement that the voting age was being lowered, it shifted the betting odds slightly more in Reforms favour…I’m quite surprised by that as I’m sure whichever Labour genius dreamt it up is.

I’d imagine all Labour has left at this point is over 40s public sector workers.

I agree it’s going to be interesting, it’s been trending Reforms way for a long time now.

Yes. That's democracy.

Also it's quite useful to give parties like Reform a chance to show themselves up for the grifting incompetents they are. That happened to the PVV in the Netherlands first time round, and it's happening again now.

And indeed my answer was yes.

Agree with you and @ThatBoldBear

A few months, is not a long time....

Labour were 20 or 30% behind the Tories in 2020....

If Labour, on 24% can only attract the over 40s PS worker, who is supporting the Tories on 15% ?

.... perhaps Over 50s, Female, right wingers on MN

Interesting it’s always back to Tories when Labour’s competition is Reform for next GE.

Especially if a new party takes away voters from Labour.

I'm not sure the Conservatives are the ones Labour are worrying about.

There is indeed plenty of MN support for Reform

Exactly. They’ll be worried about Reform first, and Corbyn second if it gets going.

Got to admit I’m going for whoever is most likely to get rid of Labour as is everyone I know well enough to discuss these things, looks like my hand is being forced reform’s way.

Ignoring the policies of the parties and just looking objectively at the politicians, Farage is politically hugely savvy. If you look at how he is talking about the Epping trouble, he just gets how to speak to ordinary people. He totally gives the impression he"s on their side. Rightly or wrongly.

Compare that with how Starmer described the rioters in July Those rioting about the stabbing of those little girls.. he called them far right.

I think this is going to be the crux of the next election. And if Farage can speak to 16 year olds on Tiktok like he can speak to ordinary people worried about immigration then I think he's going to do extremely well.

They were far right

Farage brought your Brexit, if you really think he will do better with his policies then vote for him.

Nobody's hand is being forced, it's a free vote.

My first voting priority by a long long way is to get rid of Labour, I meant my hand is forced by which party is likely to do that.

I did try and word my post to say ignoring the policies etc but just looking objectively at the politicians themselves. In a non tribal way. Obviously Farage doesnt speak your language. But he speaks an awful lot of other people's language.

All the demonstrators were "far right"?.

My Brexit?

I don't understand your last line at all. Apologies. Oh I see..you weren't replying to me. Or only half replying to me.

Like I said, you are free to vote for Reform and everything they stand for.

Yes, plenty of people will ignore policies when voting

Leopards eating face comes to mind

The rioters were far righr.

Farage brought you (plural you) Brexit that should have said

Ok
"Leopards eating face". This isn't an English expression I've heard? Is this something you gpt from Google translate?

What are you implying?

‘Leopards eating face’, it’s like saying ‘the wizards shoes clack’ right?

Why do you think I'm implying anything? I'm just asking about an unfamiliar expression.