Nigel Farage has delivered a brutal warning to Angela Rayner that her new policy of giving votes to 16 and 17-year-olds will backfire against Labour spectacularly. This morning, the Deputy Prime Minister confirmed she is pressing ahead with Labour’s longstanding policy of handing the vote to those who are not adults, sparking furious allegations of election fixing.
Ms Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, said: “For too long public trust in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline.
“We are taking action to break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in UK democracy, supporting our Plan for Change, and delivering on our manifesto commitment to give sixteen year olds the right to vote.”
However, in a damning slapdown, Mr Farage warned Ms Rayner that the plan will backfire in a major way.
The Reform UK leader blasted: “It’s an attempt to rig the political system but we intend to give them a nasty surprise.”
A new poll this morning suggests that Labour is just ahead with 16 and 17-year-olds on around 33% support, however, Reform UK is closing in quickly and now polls second at 20%.
There are also concerns from Labour that a new party led by Jeremy Corbyn would attract widespread support from youngsters, further undermining Labour support.
The poll by Merlin Strategy also found that 49% of 16 and 17-year-olds don’t believe they should be able to vote, with just 18% saying they definitely would.
Top Tory Sir Simon Clarke, the director of the Onward think tank, accused Labour’s plan of being “shameless gerrymandering”.
He added: “If we don’t think 16 is the age of adult maturity, why is the Government doing this?”
Young people are not entitled to most adult freedoms until the age of 18, including being able to buy cigarettes and alcohol, join the army, get married and leave full-time education.
Former Sun editor and political commentator Kelvin MacKenzie blasted: “In a desperate attempt to find anybody to vote Labour Angela Rayner has announced 16-year-olds can vote at the next General Election.”
“At 16 they know nothing of life and finance and therefore make great socialist fodder. Older voters sick of subsidising teenagers born with their hands out will vote for any party which will raise the vote to 21 or 25.”