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Daily Mirror
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
'Young people like me will have their voices heard thanks to votes at 16'
Young campaigner Inaaya Ijaz who called for Votes at 16 at last year's Labour Conference says young people will now have their voice heard at the next general election. Last year young campaigner and activist Inaaya Ijaz called for Votes at 16 at Labour Conference – as part of the Daily Mirror's 'If Year 9 were in No 10' project. Yesterday, Inaaya found out the Labour government had listened to her. In a historic move, 16 and 17-year-olds will be given the right to vote at the next general election, ministers confirmed yesterday. Inaaya may only be 15 but she has already been busy shaping the future and fighting to better her community. The young teen from Ilford, London, is deputy member of Youth Parliament for Redbridge Council, chief voice officer for Kids Against Plastic and a radio presenter at 24 Hours Radio. Last year Inaaya took part in the Mirror 's 'If Year 9 were in No 10' special project, where we spoke to nine teenagers about their views of the country and what they would change about it if they were in charge in the lead up to the election. Inaaya's request was for young people 16 and over to vote in general elections because she wanted the youth to be part of the future change. She told us: "Personally I think this is incredible news, it now means myself and other young changemakers across the UK will now have a say in the next election. Now it's not only a few new people added to the election but over one million new votes will now be counted in the next election. "It means myself and other young people will have their voices heard. This is vital we will become more informed of decisions to make when we become the next generation of changemakers. "Once again I believe this new change is necessary and I'm so happy that the Labour Party has been able to listen to our views as young people and go the next step and by allowing us to vote in the next general election too."
Daily Mirror
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
'Hurt and anger' over Hillsborough Law could impact Runcorn by-election
As the key by-election in Runcorn and Helsby takes place next week, The Division Bell discussed the impact of Keir Starmer's failure to deliver the 'Hillsborough Law' on time People in Liverpool feel 'betrayed' as Keir Starmer failed to deliver on his promise of a 'Hillsborough Law' before the 36th anniversary of the tragedy. This could be a decisive factor in the minds of some residents in nearby Runcorn as they head to vote in the by-election on May 1. Mr Starmer promised at the Labour Conference in Liverpool in September that he would introduce 'a law for the 97 that people shouldn't have had to fight so hard to get." However, he missed his pledge of introducing it before the anniversary on April 15, saying more time was needed to create the 'best version' of the legislation. 'It would impose a duty of candour on public officials to try and prevent state cover-ups of that kind and he promised it would be brought forward in time for the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.' Lizzy Buchan explained on the Division Bell podcast. Not fulfilling his promise, 'is a big issue in Liverpool, in Merseyside, and Runcorn is not very far away.' Lizzy stated: 'People I've spoken to on the ground say that there's a lot of hurt and anger about the fact that they feel they're about to be betrayed on this issue ... Labour activists I've spoken to there are concerned about it and MPs from nearby constituencies.' The polls show Reform is ahead of Labour by 40% to 35% which represents a 20% swing from Labour to Reform since the general election. It is Mr Starmer's first by-election as Prime Minister, and if Labour candidate Karen Shore loses, it could be a huge blow for Labour as the constituency has been a Labour stronghold for decades. Christian Calgie predicted that he'd expect 'Labour to hold it by a thousand votes, but as Nigel Farage keeps telling us, this is Labour's 16th or 17th safest seat in the country so if they're getting to that level of closeness almost every Labour MP in the country is going to wake up terrified." Lizzy agreed: 'Labour will hopefully clinch it, but Reform have absolutely thrown the kitchen sink at it, and they are doing well in that area.' To hear more about the local elections taking place next week, the Supreme court's gender ruling and current affairs, check out this week's episode of The Division Bell.
