Labour Accused of ‘Rigging Elections’ by Letting 16-Year-Olds Vote’ Here’s How It Happened
In a report by Telegraph news, Labour plans to let 16 and 17-year-olds vote by the end of the year. Some people say this is a way to “rig future elections.” The government says MPs will vote on this idea soon, possibly this spring. This news comes after the government delayed some local elections set for May.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, accused Labour of trying to “rig” the system. He said Labour canceled votes for millions of people in May and now wants to let younger people vote to help them in future elections. He thinks Labour might be surprised by how many young people vote for Reform instead.
The Conservatives criticized Labour’s plan, calling it a “desperate attempt” to win the next election. Because Labour has a strong majority in Parliament, the plan is likely to pass easily.
Labour leader Keir Starmer promised in his election campaign to let 16 and 17-year-olds vote to get more young people involved in democracy. This is part of a bigger elections Bill that will also change some voter ID rules introduced by the Conservatives.
If the Bill passes, it will be the first time the voting age has been lowered in the UK since 1969, when it went from 21 to 18. The Conservative Party chairman, Nigel Huddleston, said Labour is confused about when someone becomes an adult and is making this move because they’re struggling in power.
Letting 16 and 17-year-olds vote could add 1.5 million new voters, but young people often don’t vote as much. Only 37% of 18-24-year-olds voted in the last election. If the same number of 16 and 17-year-olds vote, it would mean about 520,000 new voters. Most young voters support Labour, but some polls show growing support for Reform among young people.
The government was also accused of interfering in elections after Angela Rayner, a Labour official, canceled votes for 5.5 million people in areas where local councils were being reorganized. Reform UK, which has been doing well in polls, wants Rayner to explain her decisions and share her conversations with local leaders.
Rayner said elections would be delayed in several areas, including some controlled by Conservatives and one by Labour. A government spokesperson said they were elected on a promise to let 16 and 17-year-olds vote and will make sure the change is done properly before the next election.
