The UK government’s King’s Speech did not include the Labour Party’s promise to lower the voting age for the next general election. However, Commons leader Lucy Powell has stated that the promise to allow 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote will be honoured. Some of the Conservative Party’s beliefs are that Labour is attempting to entrench its power in politics, indicating that the accusation created tension before the recent election. Although the retirement age for the UK’s House of Lords was not discussed, changes are expected in the future.
Powell assured the public that an elections bill would follow later in the parliamentary cycle and reaffirmed Labour’s commitment to honour their manifesto pledge to lower the voting age to 16. Powell added that she hopes that 16 and 17-year-olds will be able to vote for the next general election.
16 and 17-year-olds are already eligible to vote in parliamentary and local elections in Scotland and Wales. The King’s Speech mentioned the removal of the right of the few remaining hereditary peers from the House of Lords.
The government has stated that it aims to strengthen the integrity of elections and encourage people to participate in the democratic process. The UK voting age was last changed by the Labour government in 1969. In Scotland in 2015, the voting age was lowered from 18 to 16. Lastly, a similar change became effective in Wales in 2020, indicating that the rest of the UK could follow in due course
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