President Starmer at it again..

He’s decided 16 year olds can vote in future elections. Not a decision taken in the houses of parliament …just his. What’s happened to our established parliamentary rules and what will the man decide next.

 

Not many seemed to mind, when Boris was at it

 

But it will have to go through parliament. It was a manifesto pledge and will have to be debated and voted upon.

 

He can have the opinion but can’t pass it without going through Parliament

 

When I was 16 I didn't have a clue about politics and probably wasn't interested. I don't know much more now.
What exactly will 16 year olds think they are voting for? I can't imagine.

 

If they're old enough to work they should be getting a vote.

I doubt many of these votes would currently be chucked Labours way but i do agree they all deserve a voice.

 

With Labour holding the majority, and it being a manifesto pledge, there won't be many who defect in the vote... So it's as good as in.

I see no problem with this. At 16, they can join the armed forces, start a family, pay tax etc.. They should have the right to vote. Also, at 16, they're effectively voting for the next 4/5 years of their life where they'll be well into established adulthood.

The usual Tory and Reform voters online are saying it's rigging the election, which makes me laugh because their policies are clearly not of benefit to the younger generation of they expect them to vote Labour instead.

 

There will be ANOTHER uturn.

 

Why shouldn't someone who is going to be making big decisions about their future be able to have a say on it?

The older generation had their say in 2016 and inflicted more damage than enough!

 

Manifesto pledge.

End of.

 

Brilliant news.

Their are our future so why not. Let them take responsibility for it

 

There’s plenty of adults that fall into that bracket also, especially the Deform voters

 

Given the sh*t shows of Brexit and Johnson, I'd rather trust the 16 and 17 year olds to have their say rather than people who are supposedly sentient and wise who think voting in a fascist is the way forward.

 

"the pledge will be part of a raft of measures introduced through a new Elections Bill."
(https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c93kkg37n3kt)

"What is a bill?
"A Bill is a proposal for a new law, or a proposal to change an existing law that is presented for debate before Parliament.
"Bills are introduced in either the House of Commons or House of Lords for examination, discussion and amendment.
"When both Houses have agreed on the content of a Bill it is then presented to the reigning monarch for approval (known as Royal Assent).
"Once Royal Assent is given a Bill becomes an Act of Parliament and is law."
(https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/laws/bills)

 

All we gonna read now is ", too young, too immature, this Country's fecked etc"
I dont think it will be

 

If they're old enough to reproduce, join the army etc then they should have the vote.

A 16 year old has much more at stake in the future of the country than an 80 year old.

 

Maybe, just maybe he should hold himself to a higher standard than Johnson, lest he face accusations that "they're all the same."

In Starmer's own words, "The fight for trust is the battle that defines our political era." 60% of adults deem him untrustworthy according to a You Gov poll on 16 June 2025 so he is losing that battle. It's becoming harder and harder to justify his leadership other than the increasingly frayed, "it's not the Tories" line. Where's the hope?

 

I don't recall hearing much complaint at the tory attempts to rig the electoral system in their favour with boundary changes and the scandalous changes to voter ID.

The country and the planet is screwed. Its the youth of today and tomorrow who are going to have to find a way to undo the carnage of the last decade (and more in regards to the climate crisis).

 

I can speak with experience of being a 16 year old, I didn’t have a clue back then.

 

Given some political commentary, I can safely say there are many over the age of 18 who have even less of a clue.