Lowering the voting age: a boost for UK democracy or a shot in the dark?

Half a century since the national voting age was last lowered, Keir Starmer has decided the time is right to include more than a million 16- and 17-year-olds in democracy for the first time.Like bringing in same-sex marriage, smoking bans or maternity leave, extending the franchise is a defining policy that will become part of this government’s permanent legacy for the country.The thinking behind the move, promised in Labour’s manifesto, is that encouraging younger people to vote at an age when they are still largely in education will persuade them to make it a lifelong habit.There is also an issue of fairness. Many young people work and contribute taxes, or serve in the military in non-combat roles

Voting age to be lowered to 16 across UK by next general election

The voting age will be lowered to 16 across the UK by the next general election in a major change of the democratic system.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. It brings the whole of the UK voting age to 16. Scotland and Wales have already made the change for Holyrood and Senedd elections, as well as local council elections.The move fulfils a Labour manifesto promise to give 16- and 17-year-olds the vote and is the biggest change to the franchise since 1969, when the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18

Labour MP suspended for opposing disability cuts will keep speaking for ‘invisible in society’

An MP suspended from Labour for spearheading a rebellion against disability benefit cuts has stood by her actions and says she will “continue to advocate for my constituents”.Rachael Maskell, the MP for York Central, told the BBC that Keir Starmer had been wrong to suspend her and three colleagues and that the party needed to be a “broad church that listens to each other”.Speaking to the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, she said by speaking up against government cuts to disability benefits she was advocating for people who were “invisible in our society”.“I don’t see myself as a ringleader, I joined with other colleagues who had similar concerns about this legislation. We ultimately do believe that cutting money from some of the poorest in our society is not what a Labour government should be doing,” she said

MPs to tighten laws allowing foreign donations to influence UK elections

Ministers are planning to close loopholes that could allow foreign money to influence UK elections, with a crackdown on illegitimate donations through shell companies and new tests on political donors.As part of a push to tighten up electoral law, the government will on Thursday announce a series of measures to ensure donations come from allowable UK sources.These will include making sure foreign sources of money cannot be transferred into UK shell companies that carry out no business in the UK.The changes will also involve asking parties to do enhanced checks on donors and will require donor organisations known as “unincorporated associations” to make sure all contributions over £500 come from legitimate UK sources.At the same time, there will also be stronger fines of up to £500,000 for those that break the rules, with any false or misleading declarations constituting a criminal offence

Starmer and Merz to sign UK–Germany treaty targeting smuggling gangs and boosting defence ties

Keir Starmer will welcome Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, to Downing Street on Thursday to sign a new bilateral treaty that promises tighter action on smuggling gangs, expanded defence exports and closer industrial ties between the UK and Germany.The bilateral friendship and cooperation treaty marks the latest phase of Starmer’s bid to rebuild Britain’s influence in Europe – without reopening formal ties with the EU.The treaty includes a German commitment to make it illegal to facilitate unauthorised migration to the UK, closing off a key supply route used by smugglers operating from German territory. UK officials say the new law, expected to be passed by the end of the year, will give police and prosecutors the tools to target warehouses and logistical hubs used to store small boats and engines linked to Channel crossings.Police will be able to raid warehouses, seize assets and arrest facilitators even where no migrants are present, a move the UK government says will significantly disrupt the supply chain behind dangerous Channel crossings

Keir Starmer removes Labour whip from four ‘persistent rebel’ MPs

Keir Starmer has fired a warning shot to rebellious Labour MPs and moved to reassert his grip on his party by removing the whip from four backbenchers for repeatedly breaching discipline.Labour MPs Rachael Maskell, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff were told they had lost the party whip on Wednesday afternoon for repeatedly rebelling against the government.A Labour source told the Guardian the whip was being removed from “persistent rebels”, while a further three Labour MPs were stripped of their government trade envoy roles.The surprise move, which came after Downing Street pledged to mend relations with the Labour backbenches after being forced to U-turn over controversial welfare cuts, triggered fury in sections of the parliamentary party.All four MPs who were suspended have been openly critical of several government policies