British 16-year-olds could get vote from next year, says Labour

The Starmer government says an elections bill, which would include lowering the voting age, could be introduced during the next parliamentary session.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Picture: Getty Images

Laws allowing 16-year-olds to vote in British elections could be introduced as early as next year, a Labour minister has said.

Commons leader Lucy Powell said an elections bill, which would include lowering the voting age, could come in the next parliamentary session.

Ms Powell was also asked on Sky News if laws would be changed to prevent foreign donations to political parties after speculation that Elon Musk, the owner of X, could give millions of pounds to the populist right-wing party ­Reform UK.

She said: “We’ve no immediate plans to do that but we do have a manifesto commitment to look more broadly at our elections regime in this country – from things like votes at 16, which we’re committed to, but also to make sure that our electoral system has got that integrity and is robust from many of the new issues that (we) face undermining our democracy and our elections.”

In its manifesto, Labour committed itself to giving “16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote in all elections”, but the pledge was not included in the government’s first King’s speech.

However, Ms Powell said on Sunday (Monday AEDT): “We are committed to bringing forward some changes to the way in which elections are run in this country.

”There will be an elections bill, probably in the next parliamentary session, but obviously we’ve not made those decisions yet.”

The policy will probably help Labour, which tends to attract more young voters than other parties. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on the campaign trail: “Yes, I want to see both 16 and 17-year-olds (vote). 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.”

The Times revealed in May that Labour intended to lower the voting age, with hopes it would occur within the party’s first year in power.

About 1.5 million people under 18 would get the vote in general elections. It would be the largest change to the electorate since 1969, when the voting age was reduced from 21 to 18.