Voting age to be lowered to 16 by next election

The voting age will be lowered to 16 across the UK by the next general election in a major change to the democratic system, despite some concerns within Labour that it could benefit smaller parties such as the Greens and Reform UK.

- Rowena Mason Pippa Crerar

The government said it would bring in more fairness for 16- and 17-year-olds, many of whom already work and are able to serve in the military. Keir Starmer said it was important that teenagers who paid taxes had their say on how the money was spent.

The move brings the whole of the UK voting age to 16, as Scotland and Wales have already made the change for Holyrood, Senedd and council elections.

It is the biggest change to the franchise since 1969, when the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18. However, some Labour MPs are worried the move could backfire and result in a boost in support for more left-leaning parties, while others fear that it could bolster Reform UK, which is growing in support among young men.

The Reform leader, Nigel Farage, accused the government of trying to rig the system to allow schools to bias young people with "leftwing prejudice". But he said Labour would get "the shock of its life" as Reform intended to appeal to 16- and 17-yearold voters by the next election.

Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, played down concerns in her party that the move could change the outcome of elections, saying she was more worried about the impact of misinformation on voters.