Sir Keir Starmer confirms he believes 16 and 17-year-olds should be able to vote
Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed he wants 16 and 17-year-olds to be able to vote.
The Labour leader said anyone paying tax should “have a say” in how their money is spent.
Asked on the campaign trail in Staffordshire, Sir Keir said: “Yes, I want to see both 16 and 17-year-olds.
“If you can work, if you can pay tax, if you can serve in your armed forces, then you ought to be able to vote.”
Around 1.5million people would be given the vote in the biggest change since 1969, when the voting age was lowered from 21.
It could also benefit any future Labour government as young people are more likely to vote Labour.
Last year one in three Brits said the legal voting age should be reduced to 16, a survey found.
Research of 2,000 adults found 42 per cent think real change could happen if younger people’s voices were heard from an earlier age.
Half (49 per cent) of those aged 25-34 believe 16-year-olds should be able to vote compared to 17 per cent of over 65s who feel the same.
But while 49 per cent of all respondents don’t believe 16-year-olds should be able to vote, 64 per cent admitted they would have liked to have been able to do so when they were that age.
Of those who didn’t believe 16-year-olds should be given the vote, seven in 10 felt this way due to their lack of life experience.
The research was commissioned by The Body Shop, which alongside the British Youth Council, was calling upon the government to lower the voting age to 16 across the UK, with a petition galvanising support.
Maddie Smith, managing director for the UK and Ireland at The Body Shop, said: “Young people today are more engaged with politics than ever, and their representation within politics impacts each and every one of us.
“Critics often feel that 16 and 17 is too young but these age groups have already demonstrated their high levels of understanding, bright ideas and spirited commitment to causes that are important to them.
“Not to mention the fact that many of the decisions made today, that they don’t currently have a say in, will have a direct impact on their future.
“If we want to ensure long-term enfranchisement and abolish the voting inequality that exists for young voters across the UK, then we need to lower the voting age to 16, opening up our democratic system to allow young people to enjoy their full rights as part of the electorate.”