Keir Starmer keen to give 16 year olds VOTE if Labour win

Usually they are though. The past is a great predictor of the future.

Sometimes things arent linked to something else that happened in the past.

I agree Glorianny. If the average 16 year old read this thread they would feel as patronised and angry at the writing off of their capabilities as the groups that went before.

Funny how the reasons being expressed for not giving 16 year olds the vote are very similar to those given whenever the vote was extended. Working class men weren't educated enough, women were not capable of thinking for themselves and were too easily swayed.
Some 16 year olds will want to vote some won't. But that's like the whole of the electorate isn't it.

I have a gut instinct against the push to turn children into adults too early

I agree. When a child heads towards their late teens the rites of passage start kicking into gear - the legal age to have sex, passing a driving test, leaving school, further education, joining the armed forces etc., etc. There’s a lot going on.

Leave the voting age alone. It’s not going to benefit sixteen year olds by lowering it and it could even have a negative effect for the Labour Party.

They might all vote Tory. 😂

Not appropriate for a ‘first actions’ policy when there is so much else of more importance. And i think that everyone entitled to vote should do so. Therefore No.

I was chanting mantras doodledog, and we know what I think of those now .
I think for me it isnt necessarily that I worry they wont have the knowledge/expertise etc it's more I have a gut instinct against the push to turn children into adults too early.

at first i was against it, but really, what is the harm.
as for being interested in or knowledgeable about politics, how many of the present electorate are.
there is no intelligence test connected to it.
not should there be.
if they are not interested, they will not vote, probably won't register to vote.
as for extremists getting hold of their minds, well it is one of the advantages of the first past the post system that minority parties do not hold undue sway.

Voting is a privilege, the right to do so should not be handed out like sweets to bribe gullible, easily led youngsters.

Same here, Galaxy. Also, at 16 I was very idealistic, and would have voted for goodness knows who if they packaged their manifesto in terms of world peace, animal rights and so on. I suspect that if my parents had tried to talk me out of it I would have become even more determined to show how adult I (thought I) was by ignoring them and going my own way.

Grandmabatty

The 16 year olds I taught had very informed views on politics. They were taught about politics from an early age. We do teenagers no favours to exclude them from understanding the democratic process. If they can marry at 16, hold down a job and sign up to serve in the armed forces, surely they are entitled to vote. It hasn't been a problem in Scotland since it was introduced.

Sixteen year olds cannot longer marry, and they had to have parents permission. If they want to join the Army at the age of 16, again parents permission is required.
Not classed as adult soldiers until 18, which is now the age of majority.
No I do ñot think 16 year old should be given voting rights.
Let them wait as we all had to. They do not become legal adults until 18,some things should be waited for.

I have had a strong interest in politics from an early age, I am afraid I still dont agree with 16 year olds voting.

I had a precocious interest in politics, certainly well before 11, yet I can remember the question of reducing the voting age - it was then 21 - arising in a debate and I argued strongly against it because, even though I had a strong interest and knowledge of politics, I could see that my experience of life was so limited that I could not make a really informed choice.

In fact within six months of leaving school and going to university and mixing with people from a wide variety of different backgrounds, I had changed my party allegiance.

I'm not in favour. I think that ways should be found to involve young people in politics, but I don't think many 16 year olds are mature enough to vote. I also think that many of them might be more susceptible to extremists who could use their support to influence policies.

GrannyGravy13

Granniesunite UK under 18’s are not allowed to fight/die for their Country.

16 year olds cannot drive, by alcohol, still treated as a minor according to the law.

Sorry. Serve in the armed forces. My mistake.

So they can't Drive, buy Alcohol, or Cigarettes, go into Battle, get Married, have to be in full time Education or in a Apprenticeship. Or even buy a pair of Scissors.
But The Labour Party wants to give them the Vote.
True you might get the odd 16 year old who is interested in Politics but they are few and far between,
My Son did a Politics degree, he might have Voted but his mates not a hope, it would be a waste of Administration money setting it up.

Granniesunite UK under 18’s are not allowed to fight/die for their Country.

16 year olds cannot drive, by alcohol, still treated as a minor according to the law.

NO !!

As a family we always encouraged our children to take an interest in politics with lots of debate around our table. It did get a bit heated at times!

One of mine at fourteen could leave you standing with her very articulate views on most things political. She had a fabulous history teacher who encouraged her and her first degree was in politics. If she’d been allowed to vote at sixteen she would have been more informed than a lot of adults.

I have no problem with this concept. If they’re not interested they’ll not vote but let’s give the ones who are interested the choice.. After all they can fight and die…if necessary …for their country that age.

In a Scotland as said up thread it’s not been a problem.

I think it is a good idea. Young people will be most affected by climate change and leaving the EU.. There are loads of politically aware young people and they are encouraged in school to discuss issues related to their futures..

Remember William Hague?
He first made the national news at the age of 16 by addressing the 1977 Tory Annual National Conference. In his speech he told the delegates: "half of you won't be here in 30 or 40 years' time..., but that others would have to live with consequences of a Labour Government if it stayed in power”
Has he wavered?
Many of us had the courage of our convictions by 16, and were already political animals - and they will be the ones who vote at 16 & 17 now.

Grandmabatty

The 16 year olds I taught had very informed views on politics. They were taught about politics from an early age. We do teenagers no favours to exclude them from understanding the democratic process. If they can marry at 16, hold down a job and sign up to serve in the armed forces, surely they are entitled to vote. It hasn't been a problem in Scotland since it was introduced.

I can think if plenty of adults who are not capable of making a mature informed decision when voting.

Young adults should be taught about the constitution and the different political parties. They would be better informed than many adults - some of whom seem incapable of identifying the PM and opposition leader😮

Germanshepherdsmum

I really don’t think people of 16 are sufficiently mature to vote. I remember my own ideologies at that age and cringe. I met my future first husband at that age and wasn’t sufficiently worldly wise to see through his facade. 18 is quite early enough.

I agree.

One of the reasons that when I start leaning towards Labour, I row myself back again.
One of the top reasons actually.

I really don’t think people of 16 are sufficiently mature to vote. I remember my own ideologies at that age and cringe. I met my future first husband at that age and wasn’t sufficiently worldly wise to see through his facade. 18 is quite early enough.

The 16 year olds I taught had very informed views on politics. They were taught about politics from an early age. We do teenagers no favours to exclude them from understanding the democratic process. If they can marry at 16, hold down a job and sign up to serve in the armed forces, surely they are entitled to vote. It hasn't been a problem in Scotland since it was introduced.