Voting age to be lowered to 16 across UK: Government

The voting age will be lowered to 16 across the UK in time for the subsequent common election, govt has confirmed, bringing UK-wide elections in step with Scotland and Wales.Around 1.5 million 16- and 17-year-olds will be eligible to vote in all UK elections as soon as the elections invoice turns into regulation. Currently the voting age for the final election is eighteen.Announcing the change, deputy prime minister Angela Rayner mentioned: “Unlike our opponents, this Labour govt is not running scared of a generation that’s hungry for change.”Among different modifications introduced within the technique paper, British voters will be ready to use UK-issued financial institution playing cards as ID to vote at polling stations. Currently they’re solely allowed to use picture ID equivalent to passports and driving licences.A clampdown on overseas donations has additionally been promised, by requiring that donations from British firms giving to political events are finishing up real business exercise and the recipients will be liable for checking there isn’t any overseas interference. In addition harder sentences will be introduced out for anybody who harasses and threatens candidates.(*16*)The modifications got here beneath hearth from the Conservatives and Reform UK.Tory MP James Cleverly mentioned Labour had solely carried out this as a result of they have been “tanking in the polls”.Shadow communities minister Paul Holmes MP mentioned: “Sixteen-year-olds will be able to vote in an election but not stand as candidates, and they will be able to vote but not permitted to buy a lottery ticket, consume alcohol, marry, or go to war.”Leader of Reform UK Nigel Farage mentioned permitting financial institution playing cards as voter ID was “allowing wide-open fraud”. “Reform is in second place with this age group, so if this is what is going to happen we are going to give Labour the shock of their lives,” he mentioned.Minister for democracy Rushanara Ali mentioned: “Young people can work at 16, pay taxes and join the Army. There is no reason that they should not have the right to a say in who represents them. They are passionate about the issues affecting their communities and country; foreign interference in British politics is a growing danger to our democracy and it is right that we tackle it.”