Sir Keir Starmer has suggested giving 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote, and the Labour Party is also facing criticism over possible plans to remove voter ID laws and allow some foreign nationals to vote.
Critics, including Conservative MPs, call these ideas a “shameless” move to gain long-term political advantage.
The debate about voter ID laws began in 2023 when the Conservative government, led by Rishi Sunak, made it mandatory for voters to show photo identification at polling stations. While the move aimed to prevent voter fraud, it faced backlash from various parties.
Labour argued the rule unfairly affected younger people, poorer communities, and ethnic minorities—groups that tend to support them. The Electoral Commission later reported that at least 16,000 people were turned away in the 2023 elections because they lacked proper ID.
Before becoming Prime Minister, Starmer voiced concerns about voter ID rules, saying they might need to be scrapped because of their negative impact.
These concerns grew after a 2025 report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), which warned that strict ID rules could harm voter turnout and suggested relaxing or removing them. Labour did not include removing voter ID laws in its election manifesto but hinted that changes could still be on the table.
The IPPR report also called for a broader discussion about voting rights. It proposed giving the right to vote to long-term residents who pay taxes in the UK but aren’t citizens, such as those from outside the UK, Ireland, or Commonwealth nations. The report argued that these people contribute to society and should have a say in elections.
While Starmer hasn’t confirmed plans to allow foreign nationals to vote, he has said it doesn’t make sense for settled migrants who have lived in the UK for decades to be excluded from voting. Labour’s earlier discussions about extending voting rights to younger people and potentially foreign nationals suggest the party is exploring ways to expand the electorate.
The Conservative government has rejected these claims, stating they have no plans to change voting rights for foreign nationals. They also said they are reviewing voter ID rules to address any issues. A government spokesperson emphasized their commitment to protecting democracy and ensuring that every legitimate voter can participate in elections.
