Starmer's teen vote has shock factor to backfire

SIR Keir Starmer's decision to hand 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote in UK Sand to young people provide Labour with a reminder of democracy's power to shock.

- Mieka Smiles

It is clear why the PM has made this decision: Labour MPs are tired of defending Rachel Reeves's job-wrecking policies to angry constituents; this is a naked attempt to convince jaded activists their party is delivering the "change" they promised last year. Likewise, young voters in search of a left-wing party may well back the Greens or be enticed by the SNP or Lib Dems.

There are good reasons why no previous Labour government made this change.