Uncategorized
21 Jul, 2025
Nora Parker
Recent commentary suggests that lowering the UK voting age to 16 could benefit both the far-left and far-right of the political spectrum, rather than solely the Labour Party as some critics assume.
Here's an analysis of this argument
- Potential benefit for the far-left: Younger voters may be more inclined to support left-wing causes and parties, potentially aligning with the Green Party or independent candidates with similar policies.
- Potential benefit for the far-right: There's an argument that if younger voters are motivated by a desire to rebel against the status quo, this could also boost support for fringe parties, including the far-right.
- Challenges for mainstream parties: Conservative commentator Alex Deane suggests that mainstream parties may struggle to effectively appeal to younger voters, potentially driving them towards the extremes.
However, some researchers argue that the overall impact of lowering the voting age on election outcomes is likely to be negligible because 16 and 17-year-olds constitute a small percentage of the total electorate, and family influence has historically been a strong predictor of young people's voting preferences.