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Angela Rayner has confirmed Labour’s efforts to hand 16-year-olds the right to vote in the most significant example of electoral reform in more than half-a-century.
Under new proposals published today, 16 and 17-year-olds will be able to vote at the next General Election.
Alongside the new age limit, a Voter Authority Certificate will also be created to ensure officers can “meet the digital needs of voters.”
Labour has announced it also plans to crack down on “foreign donors” making donations to parties via “shell companies”.
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Angela Rayner has announced the bombshell legislation
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “For too long public trust in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline.
“We are taking action to break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in UK democracy, supporting our Plan for Change, and delivering on our manifesto commitment to give sixteen year olds the right to vote.
“We cannot take our democracy for granted, and by protecting our elections from abuse and boosting participation we will strengthen the foundations of our society for the future.”
Democracy Minister Rushanara Ali added: We are modernising our democracy, so that it is fit for the 21st century.
“By delivering our manifesto commitment to extend the vote to 16 and 17 year olds, we are taking a generational step forward in restoring public trust and boosting engagement in UK democracy, supporting our Plan for Change.”
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Rushanara Ali, MP for Bethnal Green and Stepney, called the plans a ‘generational step’
However, senior Conservative MPs have accused Labour of engaging in a “political stunt” with one telling GB News the plan was: “Votes for children for a child’s play Government.”
Communities Secretary Kevin Hollinrake also told The Daily Mail: “Even 16 and 17-year-olds don’t think they’re ready to vote.
“With only 18 per cent saying they’d definitely take part in an election, it’s clear that rushing to lower the voting age risks undermining the democratic process. Voting should be a considered, informed responsibility – not a political stunt.”
However, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage warned that Labour’s efforts could result in a “nasty surprise” for Sir Keir Starmer.
Farage said: “It’s an attempt to rig the political system but we intend to give them a nasty surprise.”
Polling by Merlin Strategy found that almost half of 16 and 17-year-olds do not think they should be allowed to vote despite these plans.
The poll of 500 teenagers found that 49 per cent did not think the voting age should be lowered to 16, while 51 per cent said it should.
It also showed 33 per cent said they would vote Labour, followed by 20 per cent who said they’d choose Reform.
Meanwhile, 18 per cent would vote for the Greens, 12 per cent for the Liberal Democrats and only 10 per cent said they’d vote Conservative.