Labour's proposal to lower the voting age to 16 aims to engage around 1.5 million more teenagers in UK elections, aligning with similar measures in Scotland and Wales. Keir Starmer supports this initiative, encouraging youth participation in democracy. However, leading pollsters warn that the policy could have unintended consequences, potentially favoring rival parties like Reform UK and Jeremy Corbyn's new party, rather than the Labour Party as they intended. Conservative peer Robert Hayward has expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of Labour's strategy.
Leading pollsters have suggested Labour's plan to lower the voting age to 16 could backfire as Reform UK and Jeremy Corbyn's new party could end up gaining the most from the policy instead.
The seismic move announced by the government would allow around 1.5 million more teenagers to cast a ballot, bringing UK-wide elections in line with Scotland and Wales.
Keir Starmer encouraged 16 and 17-year-olds to use their vote at the next election, with No 10 saying the prime minister would encourage them to be engaged.
Respected pollster Robert Hayward told The Independent: 'I just don't think the policy will be as beneficial as the Labour Party thought when they first proposed it.'
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