16 year olds to be given the right to vote…….yes or no?

FriedGreenTomatoes2

They may well vote for Reform, Green or Corbyn’s new party (if it materialises). Sultana & Corbyn. Apparently the bookies have dubbed it the ‘Fruit & Nut’ party which did make me chuckle!

They may well do - that will be up to them.

The right to vote isn’t given based on what party you intend to vote for.

My experience of 16 & 17 years olds, which is considerable, suggests that many will research, think critically and consider all options before committing their X to a party.

Unlike many older voters!

As OldFrill says “why are auld folk so scared of young folk” 🤔

No.

Allira

I think we have to re-define at what age a child becomes an adult, as society as a whole seems confused.

Just this. 16 is either the new adulthood or it isn’t.
It should not be an area where anybody, the government, the justice system or any other body can alter the definition to suit their purposes.

OK, if we give children the vote at 16, then perhaps we should standardise all other age limits.

Age when you are allowed to purchase Alcohol,

Jury Service,

Deployed to combat zones for those in the armed forces,

Allowed to drive cars.

Being treated as an adult for offences, sent to prison not a juvenile detention centre and therefore named in court…

Utterly desperate move by Labour. Children who can’t leave school or drive a car get to play at politics. I still think Rayner is cunning and deeply unpleasant, this does nothing to persuade me otherwise.

Spinnaker

Let's hope then that the age limit is lifted in a court of law now then - no more age protection when they commit a crime to stop them being identified. Adults - of course they are 😂

I think we have to re-define at what age a child becomes an adult, as society as a whole seems confused. 🙂

They may well vote for Reform, Green or Corbyn’s new party (if it materialises). Sultana & Corbyn. Apparently the bookies have dubbed it the ‘Fruit & Nut’ party which did make me chuckle!

I am quite sure that many older people are more engaged than many 16 year olds whose only relationship with politics will be when and if they bother to turn out to vote.

Do you think children whose parents bother to vote more likely to vote?

LizzieDrip

^What they do have as an advantage is this is their world they are building^

Totally agree PoliticsNerd.

I’m quite surprised at some of the vitriol expressed against 16 & 17 year olds on this thread - some very judgemental comments.

Makes one wonder what kind of 16 & 17 year olds some GNetters know?

I'm not in the least surprised by the vitriol it seems to be the Viagra of Gransnet.
I absolutely agree with 16 year olds having the right to vote. It's been proven by 16-18 voting patterns in Scotland that early engagement leads to higher further engagement. Why are auld folk so scared of young folk.

Daffonanna

I know many young people in that age group who are bright , thoughtful and engaged with the issues of today’s world. If democracy is under threat , largely through the cynical actions of some elderly world leaders , it will be that generation who will be forced to face it and find some solutions .
Citizenship education in our schools can now engage in real politics , and perhaps we will now have a chance to develop a voting public who have been taught to challenge and question the noise being pushed at them .

Yes.

It was part of the Labour Manifesto - so those who voted Labour voted for that policy.

They vote at 16 in Scotland and I haven’t noticed disaster falling on their heads since it was enacted.

I am quite sure that many 16 year olds are more engaged than many older people whose only relationship with politics is when and if they bother to turn out to vote.

What they do have as an advantage is this is their world they are building

Totally agree PoliticsNerd.

I’m quite surprised at some of the vitriol expressed against 16 & 17 year olds on this thread - some very judgemental comments.

Makes one wonder what kind of 16 & 17 year olds some GNetters know?

So we're talking about today's 12 year olds voting in 2029. Frightening isn't it?

My grandkids were far far more clued up than me and were really ready to vote before 18 I think some of these posts really underestimate our youth and the judgement of them Saying they need to get off their phones is harsh, not all teenagers are empty heads and perhaps they are learning more from the phones than we give them credit for .
Yes there are some that aren’t interested and I expect they won’t bothered to go to the polling booth
There are many adults who s vote who I don’t trust at all and judging by the numbers released after each election the vast amount of adults don’t even bother to go to the polling stations

I m with you LizzieDrip some of the remarks on here are quite harsh and very judgemental thinking all teens are airheads

Grandma70s

Yes. They won’t know much, but then neither do most 18-year-olds, or for that matter the rest of the electorate.

Or some a great deal older Grandma70s. Like all other voters some will have enquiring minds, some will be disinterested, apathetic or misinformed.

No change there then.

What they do have as an advantage is this is their world they are building.

Some will bother to vote, some will not. Some will take the trouble to know what they are voting about, others will be swayed by their peers, what they see on the media, or to go in opposition to what their parents feel.

If they are old enough to vote, then they are old enough to be identified when they commit crimes.

You have been able to marry in Scotland for centuries at 16. But it's the age of consent to have consensual sex that's the important one IMO. That is age 16 to protect children.

GrannyGravy13

The only thing that would maybe persuade me that this could be a viable option is if U.K. schools taught all pupils how government works, from Parish Councils right the way up to The House of Lords.

Until then, it’s a no, no and another no.

Do most of the electorate understand how government works, from Parish Councils right up to the HoL?

Personally, I’d be in favour of young people being taught this in school … then 16 year olds would be better informed than many older citizens.

It’s still a yes from me. Haven’t read any arguments on here that have changed my view. Just the opposite actually😉

Who knows what they will vote. They may start their own parties. Good for them.
Does this mean we could, in theory, have a 16yr old PM?

Some of the old politicians can take a back seat.

Let's hope then that the age limit is lifted in a court of law now then - no more age protection when they commit a crime to stop them being identified. Adults - of course they are 😂

I think a lot of young ones will vote reform, probably encouraged by their fed up parents.

Yes from me. There are plenty of far older people who haven’t got a clue and can still vote. Perhaps the answer would be to get everyone to take a basic intelligence test before they’re allowed to vote 🤣

LizzieDrip

A definite YES from me.

16 year olds can work, pay tax, serve in the armed forces. They should have the right to voice an opinion about the future of their country.

After all, the future is theirs … not ours!

So should they be able to buy a drink in a pub?
Get married without parental permission?

They can join the Armed Forces and go to college but cannot go on active service and be sent to any conflicts until they are 18.

This argument keeps being thrown up as if 16 year olds are sent off to fight. They are not.

Sago

Calendargirl

X post Sago

Will ask for mine to be deleted.

Sorry didn’t see yours😱

No worries, think we posted at exactly the same time!

Great minds eh?

henetha

Absolutely no from me. It's a desperate attempt by the labour party to grab young idealistic votes from teenagers, the majority of whom don't know enough about politics.

Exactly what I was about to say! Starmer thinks they will all vote Labour. 🤣🤣

be not bite 🤷‍♀️