UK Elections 16-year-olds permitted to Vote

[arista]

Labour trying to stay in power.


https://news.sky.com/story/16-and-17-year-olds-will-be-able-to-vote-in-next-general-election-13397859


https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jul/17/voting-age-to-be-lowered-to-16-in-england-and-northern-ireland

[Liam-]

No, they’re trying to give an age range that should have a say in their future the right to have that say, if anything, this would just get more votes for the actual left wing parties so it’s not really beneficial to Labour at all

[Livia]

LoL.... Just remembering how stupid I was at 16, how stupid most people are at 16! A desperate ploy by Starmer.

[arista]

[The voting age will be lowered to 16 in England
and Northern Ireland by the next general election
in a major change of the democratic system.

The government said it was a reform
to bring in more fairness for 16- and 17-year-olds,
many of whom already work
and are able to serve in the military.
It brings the whole of the UK voting age to 16,
as Scotland and Wales have already
made the change.]


Yes, now the whole of the UK
in the next General Election.

Helping Labour stay in power

[Liam-]

LoL.... Just remembering how stupid I was at 16, how stupid most people are at 16! A desperate ploy by Starmer.

Maybe don’t judge everyone by your standards?

[Crimson Dynamo]

ridiculous

desperate by Labour

[Cherie]

Its the only way they can hang on to power, given they have alienated anyone who works and is over 30

[BBXX]

This is great - if you're old enough to serve in the military you're old enough to vote.

[Vicky.]

This is great - if you're old enough to serve in the military you're old enough to vote.

Got to agree with this

[Livia]

16 year olds, while being able to serve in the military, are not allowed on active service until they are 18.

[BBXX]

I don't see that as relevant. They're contributing to the running of the British Army and are committing to training.

[Crimson Dynamo]

This is great - if you're old enough to serve in the military you're old enough to vote.

lol

16 year olds need parental consent to join


will they need to ask their mum to vote labour too?

:laugh:

[Livia]

lol

16 year olds need parental consent to join


will they need to ask their mum to vote labour too?

:laugh:

Oh, we're not letting facts get in the way today lol....

[BBXX]

lol

16 year olds need parental consent to join


will they need to ask their mum to vote labour too?

:laugh:

You're right, but I still don't see the relevance, personally. They still can join and work and earn tax. Why shouldn't they have a say in the future? They have far more at stake than a 90 year old who won't be around to see the changes their vote might inflict.

Is there really such a huge difference between a 16 and 18 year old when it comes to political knowledge? I would hazard a guess the way most people will vote at 18 will be the same as 16.

The stats show 73% of of 18-24 year olds intend to vote Labour, Lib Dem or Green. Most 16 year olds will vote in line with the above, and therefore their maturity, or political education, or whatever it is you're pretending is an issue won't make much of a difference to their voting, whether they vote at 16 or at 24.

I would guess it's not the maturity of 16 year olds that bothers you, it's the additional numbers it will add to the above three parties.

[Livia]

LOL... "The stats show..." .

[Cherie]

I recall people bending over backwards to defend BB Trish when she was hauled over the coals for comments made in her early 20s......your brain doesn't develop fully until 25 they screeched :laugh:

Given all these 16 years old are apparently going to be thinking about their future its a shame more 18 years olds didnt think of their futures when the Brexit referendum was called :pipe: we might not be where we are now

[Livia]

Yeah, I remember the Brexit outrage on here from people who didn't bother to vote.

[arista]

Its the only way they can hang on to power, given they have alienated anyone who works and is over 30


Yes looks that way.

[BBXX]

Mocking the phrase 'the stats show' without researching the stats first... :skull:

[bots]

i do think that ages need to be equalised like working, getting married and voting.

In the past i would have said its to favour labour, but I don't think that applies anymore, so it wont have the impact that labour were expecting when they first planned it

[Livia]

Mocking the phrase 'the stats show' without researching the stats first... :skull:

Using the term "the stats show" without showing the stats.

Using the term "the stats show" in an attempt to reinforce your point, then expecting others to provide those stats to prove your point.

[Crimson Dynamo]

i do think that ages need to be equalised like working, getting married and voting.

In the past i would have said its to favour labour, but I don't think that applies anymore, so it wont have the impact that labour were expecting when they first planned it

who will they vote for (if at all)

the batsh1t greens or crazy extreme lib dems?

:umm2:

[BBXX]

I recall people bending over backwards to defend BB Trish when she was hauled over the coals for comments made in her early 20s......your brain doesn't develop fully until 25 they screeched :laugh:

Given all these 16 years old are apparently going to be thinking about their future its a shame more 18 years olds didnt think of their futures when the Brexit referendum was called :pipe: we might not be where we are now

Not voting is not the same as voting. I would have thought when I refer to how 16 year olds are likely to vote I'm talking about the 16 year olds who are voting, not the ones who don't...

I personally didn't defend Trish, but I think there is a difference between acknowledging someone young ****ed up and suggesting young people should have the right to vote.

Older people **** up too. There are plenty of uneducated idiotic people in every age bracket. Voting isn't based on intelligence level or emotional maturity, really. I personally don't care how 16 years intend to vote, I just think they should be able to.

[bots]

who will they vote for (if at all)

the batsh1t greens or crazy extreme lib dems?

:umm2:

if Corbyn's party is around, they may vote for it, they may also vote for reform. A lot of young people voted for Trump in the USA

[Livia]

If 16 years is now the age of an adult capable of voting, looking forward to 16 year olds being tried as adults, given no anonymity and sent to big boy prison.

[arista]

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/07/17/14/100398575-0-image-m-5_1752758455142.jpg

[Crimson Dynamo]

Nigel speaks:

https://x.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1945837816727908842

[Oliver_W]

At 16, you won't be paying taxes, you can't die for your country, or marry without parental consent, so why should you get to vote?

[Glenn.]

God forbid young people have a say in the future they’re expected to live in, especially when we’ve got boomers voting based on whatever GB News fearmongered about that morning.

But sure, keep pretending 16-year-olds aren’t mature enough

[BBXX]

At 16, you won't be paying taxes, you can't die for your country, or marry without parental consent, so why should you get to vote?

16 year olds who leave school to do apprenticeships or paid-for training will be paying tax and so there will be 16 and 17 year olds who do pay tax who currently cannot vote.

I am curious, if not paying tax or not dying for your country is a reason to not be able to vote, do you extend that to all ages? I personally don't agree.

Also not sure what marriage has to do with it.

[bots]

Age doesn't define someones ability to choose wisely when voting and going by recent polls less than 50% of 16-17 year olds are interested in voting, so there is that too. Lowering the age doesn't necessarily lead to engagement

[Glenn.]

Age doesn't define someones ability to choose wisely when voting and going by recent polls less than 50% of 16-17 year olds are interested in voting, so there is that too. Lowering the age doesn't necessarily lead to engagement

Let’s not pretend older voters are the gold standard of wisdom and political engagement.

[bots]

I don't think labour have begun to think of the knock on effects. Old enough to vote, old enough to buy booze. Old enough to drive, old enough to stand as an MP and as Livia pointed out, being treated as an adult in the courts

[Crimson Dynamo]

Let’s not pretend older voters are the gold standard of wisdom and political engagement.

you are an older voter

100% of 16 year olds would view you as a pensioner nearing death

:joker:

[Glenn.]

you are an older voter

100% of 16 year olds would view you as a pensioner nearing death

:joker:


You’re far older than I am so you’d be worm food.

[Crimson Dynamo]

You’re far older than I am so you’d be worm food.

they see us both the same sunshine

:douf:

[Glenn.]

Age doesn’t automatically grant wisdom, if it did, we wouldn’t have boomers proudly voting for parties that want to torch public services and then complain about the NHS being understaffed.

So yeah, I trust some 16-year-olds more than I trust a Facebook uncle with a Union Jack profile pic and a love for conspiracy theories.

[BBXX]

they see us both the same sunshine

:douf:

This I agree with :laugh: I keep seeing videos of even 20 year olds saying anyone born in the 90s they consider old. :angel:

[Oliver_W]

16 year olds who leave school to do apprenticeships or paid-for training will be paying tax and so there will be 16 and 17 year olds who do pay tax who currently cannot vote.

Nope, they don't pay enough to reach the tax threshold.



I am curious, if not paying tax or not dying for your country is a reason to not be able to vote, do you extend that to all ages? I personally don't agree.

Also not sure what marriage has to do with it.

Was mostly sarcasm, as people tend to reel off a list of things that 16 year olds "can" do in order to justify giving them the vote.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Alex Phillips @ThatAlexWoman

Dear Labour

16 year olds don't want to vote

They just want a country to grow up in to. One they can call their own.

Perhaps try leaving them that instead? Before using them as pawns to keep your Britain-destroying wrecking ball of a sh*t show government in power.

They are too young to know how toxic you are. But when they are 40 and standing in a dumpster fire of a land where they have become the minority, they will wish you had never existed.

Love,

Britain

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1831560377731104768/VlgMNK5v_200x200.jpg

[BBXX]

Nope, they don't pay enough to reach the tax threshold.

The minimum wage for most apprenticeships is £7.55 which based on a full time hours would be just shy of 15k.

The starting salary I believe for a 16 year old in the Army is over 15k.

Tax threshold is 12.5k

Unless I am mistaken but I'm pretty sure the above it correct.

[Oliver_W]

The minimum wage for most apprenticeships is £7.55 which based on a full time hours would be just shy of 15k.

The starting salary I believe for a 16 year old in the Army is over 15k.

Tax threshold is 12.5k

Unless I am mistaken but I'm pretty sure the above it correct.

okay I stand corrected on that point, I knew they paid a pittance but I thought it was more of a pittance :laugh:

[Cherie]

Polls today suggest 16 year olds are split on wanting to vote

of those that do

33 per cent would vote Labour
20 per cent Reform
and the remainder Green

[Livia]

You’re far older than I am so you’d be worm food.

You must be getting up there. You considered yourself a "young person" when I joined here fifteen years ago. To a teenager you're an old guy.

[Ninastar]

Eh, this is dumb imo. Most 16 year olds aren’t mature enough/haven’t experienced real life working standards and will probably just vote for what their friends (and teachers…) tell them to

18 should be the age you can vote/drink/smoke/join army/pay taxes etc etc

[Oliver_W]

Polls today suggest 16 year olds are split on wanting to vote

of those that do

33 per cent would vote Labour
20 per cent Reform
and the remainder Green

I'd have thought it would be split between Reform and the Greens tbh - what do Labour have to offer?

[Cherie]

I'd have thought it would be split between Reform and the Greens tbh - what do Labour have to offer?

If they enjoy freezing old people to death, and taking away peoples disabled benefits they would vote Labour?

[BBXX]

Polls today suggest 16 year olds are split on wanting to vote

of those that do

33 per cent would vote Labour
20 per cent Reform
and the remainder Green

I read the remainder was between Green (18%), Lib Dem(13%) and Con (10%) I guess the remaining small percentage is a ‘Don’t Know’

[Cherie]

I read the remainder was between Green (18%), Lib Dem(13%) and Con (10%) I guess the remaining small percentage is a ‘Don’t Know’

that would make more sense, I only heard the first 3

[Livia]

Nope, they don't pay enough to reach the tax threshold...

You know, child actors pay tax. Maybe we should give them the vote.

[Glenn.]

You must be getting up there. You considered yourself a "young person" when I joined here fifteen years ago. To a teenager you're an old guy.

No hun. Like I said LT is far much older than I am. As are you. The discussion isn’t about me though, or about you, or even about the member who attempted to make a personal jab. It’s about 16yr olds voting and from this conversation I’d take the opinion of a 16yr old than at least two people involved in this debate.

[joeysteele]

I get far more sense and even compassion on issues from those in my own family of 16 now and most under 16 too.
I get far more hate filled attitude and extreme thinking from those much older.
I've always said 16 year olds should get the vote.
I support this all the way.

HOWEVER.
I remember my Father telling me of when Harold Wilson of the Labour government between 1966 to 1970.
Where he gave the vote to 18 year olds.
Perhaps in the belief that would help him electorally.
When in the end, the majority of them voted Conservative in 1970 and he lost.

I still though think 16 year olds SHOULD have the vote.
They have in some elections in Scotland and Wales.
The other good thing is, they care about issues that Farage and Reform dismiss and don't give a damn about
So it will be no surprise to me to find Reform backers totally against this policy.

It is a Labour manifesto pledge, It should be done and I totally support it.

[Liam-]

It’s always the boomers who swallow everything Fox and GB news throw at them that accuse other generations of being easily influenced

[Glenn.]

It’s always the boomers who swallow everything Fox and GB news throw at them that accuse other generations of being easily influenced

Crazy huh.

[Redway]

you are an older voter

100% of 16 year olds would view you as a pensioner nearing death

:joker:

Not even 90%. 16-year-olds come in all shapes and forms.

[Livia]

It’s always the boomers who swallow everything Fox and GB news throw at them that accuse other generations of being easily influenced

Do you know how ageist and ridiculous you sound? Like everyone older than you is bad and everyone your age and younger is good. And you yourself can't be in the first flush of teenage youth anymore. And every year you get older you'll get more life experience. It's almost like, the longer you live, the more stuff you learn. Well, some of us learn.

[Redway]

they see us both the same sunshine

:douf:

They really wouldn’t.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Not even 90%. 16-year-olds come in all shapes and forms.

Wait, what?🤨

[Redway]

Wait, what?🤨

Have you suddenly forgotten how to read?

[Zizu]

Have you suddenly forgotten how to read?


Your charm lessons are paying off


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Crimson Dynamo]

Your charm lessons are paying off


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

:joker:

[Glenn.]

Do you know how ageist and ridiculous you sound? Like everyone older than you is bad and everyone your age and younger is good. And you yourself can't be in the first flush of teenage youth anymore. And every year you get older you'll get more life experience. It's almost like, the longer you live, the more stuff you learn. Well, some of us learn.

Aren’t you being ageist assuming ALL 16yr olds are stupid like you were at 16?

[MTVN]

I don't necessarily think 16 year olds are stupid but I do think they can be emotionally immature and fickle. No criticism but that's part of growing up. Plus they are generally completely dependent at that age. Whatever you think of the intelligence of some adult voters they are generally responsible for their own income, their own finances, their own livelihoods, their own role in society in a way that 16 year olds simply aren't. Lots of 18 year olds aren't either but we have to draw the line somewhere and 18 is generally the age at which someone is considered an adult

[arista]

ITN surveyed 500
16/17 year olds

33% would vote for Labour
20% would vote for Reform UK
18% would vote for the Greens
12% would vote for LibDems
and
10% would vote for the Conservatives.

[Glenn.]

ITN surveyed 500
16/17 year olds

33% would vote for Labour
20% would vote for Reform UK
18% would vote for the Greens
12% would vote for LibDems
and
10% would vote for the Conservatives.


I guess we know why people are so against lowering the age looking at these numbers

[Cherie]

It’s always the boomers who swallow everything Fox and GB news throw at them that accuse other generations of being easily influenced

:joker: so predictable....not good is it to be sooo predictable

[Cherie]

I don't necessarily think 16 year olds are stupid but I do think they can be emotionally immature and fickle. No criticism but that's part of growing up. Plus they are generally completely dependent at that age. Whatever you think of the intelligence of some adult voters they are generally responsible for their own income, their own finances, their own livelihoods, their own role in society in a way that 16 year olds simply aren't. Lots of 18 year olds aren't either but we have to draw the line somewhere and 18 is generally the age at which someone is considered an adult

Honestly I think its fine, Scotland and Wales already give 16 year olds the vote, think it might bite them on the bum though, and while we are equalising everything can we look at student fees where English students pay 2 times what Welsh students pay and Scottish students pay nada....come on now Keir lets make it all equal across the board

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-a744940b-5209-4aac-b329-d67506490452.png

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-ace57c48-1621-4596-b10e-4effba96844e.png

[bots]

ITN surveyed 500
16/17 year olds

33% would vote for Labour
20% would vote for Reform UK
18% would vote for the Greens
12% would vote for LibDems
and
10% would vote for the Conservatives.

if the new Corbyn party comes into existence that labour vote will be split making 4 parites share the vote pretty much equally

[Mystic Mock]

Personally what it's telling me, is that Starmer is lacking confidence in being able to get the majority of adults to vote for Labour.

[Mystic Mock]

I recall people bending over backwards to defend BB Trish when she was hauled over the coals for comments made in her early 20s......your brain doesn't develop fully until 25 they screeched :laugh:

Given all these 16 years old are apparently going to be thinking about their future its a shame more 18 years olds didnt think of their futures when the Brexit referendum was called :pipe: we might not be where we are now

Tbf, the adults that voted Brexit but now regret it are the main ones that should take responsibility for the decision to Brexit.

After all nobody should be voting for a drastic change on a subject, unless they're 100% confident that it'll work.

[Mystic Mock]

if Corbyn's party is around, they may vote for it, they may also vote for reform. A lot of young people voted for Trump in the USA

Trump has a more youthful personality than Farage.

Trump knows how to appeal to Reality TV junkies for example.:laugh:

[Mystic Mock]

This I agree with :laugh: I keep seeing videos of even 20 year olds saying anyone born in the 90s they consider old. :angel:

Well I'm old then.:laugh:

[BBXX]

Trump has a more youthful personality than Farage.

Trump knows how to appeal to Reality TV junkies for example.:laugh:

Agreed.

Trump is a walking meme, Farage is a grumpy old buggar. I can see why younger people would gravitate towards Trump in that respect.

[BBXX]

Well I'm old then.:laugh:

I was born in the 80s, so I think a lot of 29 year olds would see be as decrepit :skull: Lucky for me I am immature as **** :laugh:

[Mystic Mock]

I'd have thought it would be split between Reform and the Greens tbh - what do Labour have to offer?

You're thinking more from an adult perspective, based on current feelings towards Starmer anyway.

Where as most teens throughout any generation tend to be Labour supporters.

[Mystic Mock]

It’s always the boomers who swallow everything Fox and GB news throw at them that accuse other generations of being easily influenced

I'll be honest.

I don't know how anyone takes Fox News seriously? I remember their coverage when I was a kid to do with Obama's racist Pastor that he knew when he was a kid.:joker:

They tried to demonize Obama over knowing him, which was utter lunacy.

[Mystic Mock]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-ace57c48-1621-4596-b10e-4effba96844e.png

Starmer pretending that people's taxes go into stuff that people want.

He really is learning from the Tories.

[Mystic Mock]

Agreed.

Trump is a walking meme, Farage is a grumpy old buggar. I can see why younger people would gravitate towards Trump in that respect.

Exactly!

[Mystic Mock]

I was born in the 80s, so I think a lot of 29 year olds would see be as decrepit :skull: Lucky for me I am immature as **** :laugh:

I can't believe 30's is being seen as old by some people.:laugh:

I will miss being in my 20's though, especially when it comes to fancying women.:laugh:

Because I'm young enough to still like early twenties women without being seen as a creepy weirdo for it by some people, but could also like women in my own age group and even older.:dance:

It's been good times.

[bots]

nobody can predict politics these days, it can't be judged even on typical behaviour 5 years ago. The current government, just like all the rest from the previous 20+ years have been completely incompetent. Everyone knows it too, so given that, how can anyone possibly predict how it will be in 4 years time

[Ammi]

nobody can predict politics these days, it can't be judged even on typical behaviour 5 years ago. The current government, just like all the rest from the previous 20+ years have been completely incompetent. Everyone knows it too, so given that, how can anyone possibly predict how it will be in 4 years time

…I don’t know, in some ways I think that it is absolutely predicable because it follows populist and social media etc…like an awful reality show set in Westminster…

[joeysteele]

Personally what it's telling me, is that Starmer is lacking confidence in being able to get the majority of adults to vote for Labour.

To be fair to Starmer ( which really is hard for me to do currently), on this, this became Labour policy for to be included in last year's general election manifesto at least 2 years ago.
When according to the opinion polls Labour was on votes prediction of anything from 43% upwards.

It's a manifesto pledge and it should be done in my view.
I wholly support it.
I'd have loved to have the vote when I was 16.
Plus no way did I consider myself stupid at 16 either.
I also want to add personally that when I joined TIBB I was 18 madly interested in politics, plus you were 14, and I got far better conversation with you on political matters than some older than both of us at that time too.

[MTVN]

Honestly I think its fine, Scotland and Wales already give 16 year olds the vote, think it might bite them on the bum though, and while we are equalising everything can we look at student fees where English students pay 2 times what Welsh students pay and Scottish students pay nada....come on now Keir lets make it all equal across the board

Be interesting to see the turnout from 16/17 year olds in Wales and Scotland next year and who they vote for

I suppose the proportion of elderly people voting is increasing all the time through longer life expectancies so that will probably offset some of the impacts

[Ammi]

…I think that it’s not just an increased volume of elderly voters, that people are living longer …but also that atm future generations are getting smaller/in terms of classroom sizes it’s become very noticible…because of the affordability of having children…but to me, that doesn’t seem to be a levelling thing to reduce the voting age to 16years because if there will be less and less younger generation voters anyway, in looking at statistics …trying to encourage current non voters would seem to be a better way but I’m not sure how that can be done tbh, how that can be successfully encouraged…

[Ammi]

…if 16 year old were to have to vote, then I guess that it should be looked at that politics should be covered more at school …which would lead to an already crammed and struggling curriculum plus inevitable claims of influencing/leading etc with some schools/employees…

[bots]

fundamental changes like this lead to many unforseen knock on effects. For example voting at 16 legitimately increases the expectations of 14 year olds to be considered adults . What will that lead to? It's shifting everything closer to breaking pont

[Crimson Dynamo]

fundamental changes like this lead to many unforseen knock on effects. For example voting at 16 legitimately increases the expectations of 14 year olds to be considered adults . What will that lead to? It's shifting everything closer to breaking point


I fear it could embolden certain groups and in general is stealing childhood from our youngsters

[BBXX]

…if 16 year old were to have to vote, then I guess that it should be looked at that politics should be covered more at school …which would lead to an already crammed and struggling curriculum plus inevitable claims of influencing/leading etc with some schools/employees…

Absolutely. The whole school curriculum needs an overhaul really. They need to teach teenagers about skills and issues they will face in actual day to day life - finances, taxes, politics, psychology... not Algebra!

[BBXX]

fundamental changes like this lead to many unforseen knock on effects. For example voting at 16 legitimately increases the expectations of 14 year olds to be considered adults . What will that lead to? It's shifting everything closer to breaking pont

I don't think it will really. The logic behind this if you're old enough to pay taxes, join the Army and contribute to society in terms of the running of it, you should be able to vote.

[Ammi]

Absolutely. The whole school curriculum needs an overhaul really. They need to teach teenagers about skills and issues they will face in actual day to day life - finances, taxes, politics, psychology... not Algebra!

…yeah, I totally agree with you in that life skills are not given enough curriculum time and that’s something that was the way when I was at school as a pupil, back in the day …sadly that’s something that I can’t see being properly addressed by any government to give any real change, though…I mean…the last thing that governments are aiming for is educated/enlightened/prepared citizens…perish the thought for them…

[bots]

I fear it could embolden certain groups and in general is stealing childhood from our youngsters

i absolutely agree. The average 16 year old still has a couple of years to prepare themselves for adulthood. Change the voting age and it pushes that pressure down the age range toward kids that just aren't able to cope. That makes those kids more vulnerable and more easily exploited. That has massive consequences to society

[Crimson Dynamo]

i absolutely agree. The average 16 year old still has a couple of years to prepare themselves for adulthood. Change the voting age and it pushes that pressure down the age range toward kids that just aren't able to cope. That makes those kids more vulnerable and more easily exploited. That has massive consequences to society

and of course it will the be the most vulnerable of that group who will suffer the most

[BBXX]

No issue with a 12 year olds being thrust into national press for politically motivated reasons and giving speeches at far right rallies, but allowing 16 year olds to vote is "stealing their childhood" and making "vulnerable people suffer".... :skull: I am dead. This has to be a parody.

[bots]

No issue with a 12 year olds being thrust into national press for politically motivated reasons and giving speeches at far right rallies, but allowing 16 year olds to vote is "stealing their childhood" and making "vulnerable people suffer".... :skull: I am dead. This has to be a parody.

if you are mocking me for questioning what effect this has on 14 year olds, i'm not going to be impressed

[BBXX]

if you are mocking me for questioning what effect this has on 14 year olds, i'm not going to be impressed

My post isn't directed at you, though I don't agree with this having any impact of 14 year olds.

[Beso]

12 yr olds to dumb to write a speech, suddenly become mature enough to vote a mere 4 years later.

[Crimson Dynamo]

It is hard to avoid the conclusion that this is little more than cynical gerrymandering at a time when Reform are pulling ahead in the polls. That Labour has introduced the policy because it perceives most young people to be Left leaning, and it is therefore in the party’s political interests.

It’s hardly surprising when pupils are constantly subjected to unionised, socialist secondary school teachers – and the apparent Left-wing bias on social media. This, combined with the amount of online fake news that is shoved down the throats of people my age means most 16-year-olds don’t yet know how to think critically for themselves. They too often exist in hollow echo chambers and follow the herd, largely because alternative opinions have been silenced. Are they seriously ready to be unleashed at the ballot box?

If 16-year-olds aren’t permitted to stand as candidates then why should they be permitted to choose which candidate to vote for? I am not permitted to buy alcohol, marry or go to war without my parents’ permission. I cannot even buy a lottery ticket – yet I can pick a Prime Minister? It is incoherent.

When people do not understand politics they search for the clearest messaging, be it saving the planet or a return to what the Corbynistas oxymoronically describe as “luxury Communism”. It’s possible that, even under the leadership of Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrats may have some appeal to younger voters. If this isn’t enough to convince that it’s probably best to leave voting to the grown ups, I don’t know what will be.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/17/im-16-and-i-shouldnt-be-given-the-vote/

[BBXX]

12 yr olds to dumb to write a speech, suddenly become mature enough to vote a mere 4 years later.

Her dad said on Twitter ChatGPT wrote the speech.

[Beso]

Her dad said on Twitter ChatGPT wrote the speech.

I don't follow him on Twitter.. do you have a link.

[Crimson Dynamo]

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[Livia]

I hope they use the money to sue the school.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Anyone want to back Narinder from Big Brother? :laugh:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GwFHDU9XoAAKTm-?format=jpg&name=small

[BBXX]

No issue with a 12 year olds being thrust into national press for politically motivated reasons and giving speeches at far right rallies, but allowing 16 year olds to vote is "stealing their childhood" and making "vulnerable people suffer".... :skull: I am dead. This has to be a parody.

Didn't think this would get a reply :laugh:

[Glenn.]

Didn't think this would get a reply :laugh:

The blinkers are on.

I updated the Trump thread with the latest goings on last night too and had next to no replies from his fierce supporters on here.

[Livia]

Anyone want to back Narinder from Big Brother? :laugh:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GwFHDU9XoAAKTm-?format=jpg&name=small

Narinder Kaur calling someone else dreadful. That's ****ing rich...

And the head teacher deserves a bit of abuse, imo.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Didn't think this would get a reply :laugh:

because everyone can see its loaded with inaccurate assumptions

people are too long in the tooth on here to pander to stuff like that anymore tbh :laugh:

(plus if your post has only had one reply in an hour (which it has) on here, think yourself lucky, not everyone is hanging on to every word you post!) lol

[BBXX]

because everyone can see its loaded with inaccurate assumptions

people are too long in the tooth on here to pander to stuff like that anymore tbh :laugh:

(plus if your post has only had one reply in an hour (which it has) on here, think yourself lucky, not everyone is hanging on to every word you post!) lol

The only assumption is "for politically motivated reasons" but it's quite obvious if within 24 hours of it happening they're agreeing for her to do a speech at Tommy Robinson rally that they're using her for political reasons... the rest is factual. You just can't argue it because it exposes the enormous hypocrisy.

[Oliver_W]

Where as most teens throughout any generation

Those Boomer teens :fist:

[Livia]

My kids are 5 and 6. I am putting them both up for adoption the minute they hit their teens.

[Liam-]

Personally what it's telling me, is that Starmer is lacking confidence in being able to get the majority of adults to vote for Labour.

This was one of their major manifesto promises in the run up to the election, before Farage and reform were even in the press constantly, it’s not a panicked decision, it’s them delivering something they said they’d do if they got elected

[Mystic Mock]

To be fair to Starmer ( which really is hard for me to do currently), on this, this became Labour policy for to be included in last year's general election manifesto at least 2 years ago.
When according to the opinion polls Labour was on votes prediction of anything from 43% upwards.

It's a manifesto pledge and it should be done in my view.
I wholly support it.
I'd have loved to have the vote when I was 16.
Plus no way did I consider myself stupid at 16 either.
I also want to add personally that when I joined TIBB I was 18 madly interested in politics, plus you were 14, and I got far better conversation with you on political matters than some older than both of us at that time too.

Fair enough, I actually didn't know that tbf.

And thanks for the compliment Joey, I always remember you being really good at your knowledge of Politics at an early age on here.

For me I feel like I'm still learning lol.

Liam-

[Alf]

Why stop at 16? Why not 6 year olds or 10 year olds?