Britain to lower voting age to 16 in bid to increase democratic participation
The centre-left Labour Party pledged before it was elected in July 2024 to lower the voting age for elections to Britain's Parliament. Scotland and Wales already let 16 and 17-year-olds vote in local and regional elections.
Britain will join the short list of countries where the voting age is 16, alongside the likes of Ecuador, Austria and Brazil.
The move comes alongside wider reforms that include tightening campaign financing rules to stop shell companies with murky ownership from donating to political parties. Democracy Minister Rushanara Ali said the change would strengthen safeguards against foreign interference in British politics.
The government also said it will introduce automatic voter registration and allow voters to use bank cards as a form of identification at polling stations.
The previous Conservative government introduced a requirement for voters to show photo identification in 2022, a measure it said would combat fraud. Critics argued it could disenfranchise millions of voters, particularly the young, the poor and members of ethnic minorities.
Elections watchdog the Electoral Commission has estimated that about 750,000 people did not vote in last year's election because they lacked ID.
Turnout in the 2024 election was 59.7%, the lowest level in more than two decades.
Harry Quilter-Pinner, head of left-leaning think tank the Institute for Public Policy Research, said the changes were 'the biggest reform to our electoral system since 1969," when the voting age was lowered to 18 from 21.
The changes must be approved by Parliament. The next national election must be held by 2029.
'For too long public trust in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline,' Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said. 'We are taking action to break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in UK democracy.'
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First Post
43 minutes ago
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History Today: How India triumphed over Pakistan in the Kargil War
The Kargil War concluded on July 26, 1999, with India declaring victory against Pakistan. Nearly 500 Indian soldiers lost their lives during the two months that the war lasted. Now, the day is observed as the Kargil Vijay Diwas. On this day in 1956, Egypt seized control of the Suez Canal from Britain and France read more Soldiers on top of Tiger Hills after recapturing it from the Pakistani forces. PTI One of the key wars in the Indian subcontinent came to an end on July 26, 1999. We are talking about the Kargil War, the third direct conflict between India and Pakistan since Independence. Since India won the war, it is also known as Kargil Vijay Diwas. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. 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Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Business Standard
Trump's private Scotland visit poses diplomatic test for UK's Starmer
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Trump heads overseas at a moment when he is under siege from many of his own political allies at home over his administration's handling of documents related to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. He's also waging a two-front fight with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over interest rates and renovation of the central bank's headquarters, as well as with international trading partners ahead of his Aug. 1 tariff deadline. It is awkward for Starmer, a politician who prides himself on being a stickler for the rules and was elected to office last year on a promise to restore propriety to British politics, that he will take part in a visit that will publicize two of Trump's golf courses. For Trump, the visit is one of the starkest examples yet of his mixing of personal business with official duties. He's expected to attend the inauguration of a new course at his Aberdeen property, according to UK media reports. 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'And if they're stuck in the ocean, ruining your oceans — stop the windmills.' He also described Aberdeen, where he's expected to inaugurate a new golf course, as 'the oil capital of Europe.' Of more immediate concern to the UK is its ongoing effort to persuade the Trump administration to modify the domestic-production requirements that are holding up a trade agreement to lower US tariffs on British steel. Trump said earlier this month he would 'refine' the deal he struck with Starmer earlier this year. The prime minister isn't quite so confident, downplaying the prospects of a breakthrough in an interview with Bloomberg on Thursday. Asked if there was wiggle room on steel, Trump told reporters: 'not a lot, because if I do it for one, I have to do it for all.' That aside, Starmer's aides are nervously awaiting other more typical dangers such as the possibility of anti-Trump protests in a country where the president has little popular support. When he visited London during his first term in 2018, an unflattering blimp depicting Trump as a giant baby was famously flown over the capital. UK officials might prefer to take a safety-first approach and limit media access but are alive to the reality that Trump could easily choose to hold court with reporters without warning. For Starmer, who is not a golfer, perhaps the worst outcome of all would be the president challenging him to a round in front of the cameras. If such a nightmare scenario arose, the premier would likely politely suggest a game of five-a-side football instead, and try to convince Trump to don the shirt of the Arsenal team he follows, a person familiar with Starmer's thinking said.


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Trump arrives in Scotland for golf and bilateral talks as EU trade deal nears
U.S. President Donald Trump, dogged by questions about his ties to disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, arrived in Scotland on Friday for some golf and bilateral talks that could yield a trade deal with the European Union. Trump told reporters upon his arrival that he will visit his two golf properties in Scotland and meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen , whom he called a "highly respected woman." Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Data Science Data Analytics Healthcare healthcare PGDM others Technology Project Management Others MBA Artificial Intelligence Design Thinking Public Policy Leadership Operations Management MCA Digital Marketing Degree Data Science CXO Management Finance Cybersecurity Product Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati CERT-IITG Prof Cert in DS & BA with GenAI India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK DABS India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 30 Weeks IIM Kozhikode SEPO - IIMK-AI for Senior Executives India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIT Madras CERT-IITM Advanced Cert Prog in AI and ML India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati CERT-IITG Postgraduate Cert in AI and ML India Starts on undefined Get Details As hundreds of onlookers cheered his arrival, Trump repeated his earlier comment about a 50-50 chance of securing a deal with the EU, adding it would be his administration's biggest trade agreement thus far, if it came together. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Europe's 30 Most Beautiful Hidden Coastal Towns – Ranked by Travel Lovers Learn More Undo However, he said there were still "sticking points" with Brussels on "maybe 20 different things." Trump said his meeting with Starmer would be more of a celebration of the trade deal already reached than continued work on it, adding, "It's a great deal for both." Before he left Washington, Trump said his administration was working hard on a possible trade deal with the EU, and Brussels was keen to make a deal. Von der Leyen said later she would meet Trump in Scotland on Sunday. Live Events EU diplomats say a deal could result in a 15% tariff on EU goods, mirroring a framework accord with Japan reached this week and half of the 30% Trump is threatening to impose by August 1. Trump has sought to reorder the global economy after imposing a 10% tariff on nearly all trading partners in April and threatening sharply higher rates for many countries to kick in a week from now. Trump says the moves will reduce the U.S. trade deficit and bring in extra revenue, but economists warn the new trade policies could drive up inflation. 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The Epstein issue has caused a rare breach with some of Trump's most loyal Make America Great Again supporters, and majorities of Americans and Trump's Republicans say they believe the government is hiding details on the case, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling. White House officials are hoping the controversy dies down while Trump is abroad, two people familiar with the matter said. DEEPEN TIES Trump will stay at his Turnberry property on Scotland's west coast this weekend, before traveling on Monday to a golf property in Aberdeen, where he will open a second 18-hole course named in honor of his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod. MacLeod was born and raised on a Scottish island before emigrating to the U.S. As he left the White House, Trump said he looked forward to meeting both Starmer and Scottish leader John Swinney, who had publicly backed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. 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The framework agreement reaffirmed quotas and tariff rates on British automobiles and eliminated tariffs on the UK's aerospace sector, but left steel tariffs in place. Starmer is expected to press for lower steel tariffs, but sources close to the matter said it was unclear if any breakthrough was possible during Trump's visit. Trump has described Scotland as a "very special place" and made a similar trip there in 2016 during his earlier run for the presidency, but he will not necessarily get a warm welcome. About 70% of Scots have an unfavorable opinion of Trump, while 18% have a favorable opinion, an Ipsos poll in March found. Scottish police are girding for protests on Saturday in both Aberdeen and in Edinburgh, the country's capital. Trump will return to Britain from September 17-19 for a state visit hosted by King Charles. It will make Trump the first world leader in modern times to undertake two state visits to Britain. The late Queen Elizabeth hosted him at Buckingham Palace for a three-day state visit in June 2019.