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Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Evolution of the UK electorate from landowners to suffragettes to 16-year-old voters
Find out what's new on ST website and app. FILE PHOTO: People walk past a polling station sign outside a church as voting gets underway in the Runcorn and Helsby parliamentary by-election in Runcorn, Britain, May 1, 2025. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo LONDON - Britain on Thursday set out plans to lower the voting age to 16 in a landmark reform to the process that underpins one of the world's oldest parliaments. Who can currently vote? At present, anyone aged 18 or over can vote in UK general elections if they are a British citizen, a qualifying citizen from the Commonwealth group of former British colonies, or a citizen of Ireland, and are registered to vote. Members of the upper house of parliament and convicted prisoners serving a sentence are excluded from the franchise. When did parliament get elected representatives? In 1295, the English parliament, then made up of nobles and bishops, was extended to include elected representatives, setting the model for future parliaments. How was the electorate restricted? Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Driverless bus in Sentosa gets green light to run without safety officer in first for S'pore World US strikes destroyed only one of three Iranian nuclear sites, says new report Business 5 things to know about Kuok Hui Kwong, tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter and Shangri-La Asia head honcho Asia Air India probe of Boeing 787 fuel control switches finds no issues Singapore Man charged over manufacturing DIY Kpods at Yishun home; first such case in Singapore Singapore Sex first, then you can sell my flat: Women property agents fend off indecent proposals and harassment Singapore Two women jailed for submitting fake university certificates to MOM for employment passes Singapore Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid in Bishan: Traffic Police officer sentenced to 10 years' jail In the 15th century, the vote in England was restricted to men who owned freehold land worth at least 40 shillings, narrowing the electorate to wealthy landowners. The English and Scottish parliaments passed a law in 1707 uniting the two countries into one sovereign state called Great Britain. At this time, the right to vote was still severely restricted. About a century later, Ireland merged into Great Britain to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. When was the first UK election? The first ever UK general elections ran from July 5 until August 14 in 1802. In 1832, the vote was extended to more men by a broadening of the property qualification, while parliamentary seats were redistributed to better represent rapidly growing towns and cities. But the legislation defined a voter as a male person, formally excluding women from voting in elections. Before that, there were occasional instances of women voting. When did women get the vote? Women were granted the right to vote in stages, starting in 1918 when women over the age of 30 who owned a property or were married to a property owner were given the right. All men over the age of 21 were also given the vote at this stage. Ten years later, the vote was finally extended to all women over the age of 21, before the age was lowered to 18 for both men and women in 1969. What earlier efforts were made to move the age under 18? A bill to reduce the voting age to 16 failed to pass due insufficient parliamentary support in 2008. Proposed legislation giving 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote in Scottish parliamentary and local elections was passed by the Scottish Parliament in 2015, broadening the electorate in Scotland's devolved administration. Four years later, the Welsh Parliament followed with a similar bill, marking the largest franchise extension in Wales since 1969. Which countries have lowered the age below 18? If the plan to lower the age to 16 is passed, Britain would be on par with Austria, Nicaragua, Argentina and Malta, according to U.S.-based research group World Population Review. The age is still 18 to vote in a national election in most major economies, from the United States and Germany in the west to China and India in the east. What were other notable reforms to the UK system? The state began cracking down on illegal practices, such as bribing, in the voting system as early as 1872, through the Secret Ballot Act, enabling people to vote in private without being intimidated into voting for a particular party. Before the turn of the century, attempts to bribe voters were criminalised, with more severe fines and in some cases imprisonment set as punishment. In 2022, Boris Johnson's government introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID while voting to crack down on possible voter fraud. REUTERS
Japan Today
6 days ago
- Business
- Japan Today
Chances of partner joining UK-Italian-Japanese fighter jet project diminishing, BAE executive says
A member of staff stands next to a concept model of the new GCAP (Global Combat Air Programme) 6th generation military jet at the BAE Systems Warton factory in Warton, Britain, July 15, 2025. REUTERS/Phil Noble The likelihood of a new country joining the British, Italian and Japanese project to develop a fighter jet is diminishing, said a BAE Systems executive, amid long-held speculation Saudi Arabia could become a fourth partner. "To be part of the core program today in the same way as Japan, Italy and the UK, because of the pace we've achieved, and where we are today becomes quite challenging now," Herman Claesen, managing director of BAE's Future Combat Air System business told reporters on Tuesday. "The likelihood is diminishing all the time." The British-Italian-Japanese project, called Global Combat Air Program, was announced in 2022 before a joint venture was formally launched in June 2025, with the aim of producing a next-generation stealth aircraft by 2035. Claesen said it was possible for a new partner to join, but it would be a decision for the three governments, and they would need to consider the potential delays that could come from any change to their existing agreement. The advantage of a new partner would be to expand the market for the aircraft, but Claesen said he was confident there would be sufficient demand. "There is, I guess, a bit of a queue forming of various nations who want to talk to the three governments," he said. A rival Franco-German project to build a new fighter jet has made slower progress, plagued by delays and infighting over workshare and intellectual property rights. GCAP is being led by BAE in Britain, Leonardo in Italy and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan. Known as Tempest in Britain, a concept model of the aircraft was on display in Warton. BAE said it would be three to four meters longer than the Typhoon military jet and designed to fly a longer range. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Chances of partner joining UK-Italian-Japanese fighter jet project diminishing, BAE executive says
A member of staff stands next to a concept model of the new GCAP (Global Combat Air Programme) 6th generation military jet at the BAE Systems Warton factory in Warton, Britain, July 15, 2025. REUTERS/Phil Noble WARTON, England - The likelihood of a new country joining the British, Italian and Japanese project to develop a fighter jet is diminishing, said a BAE Systems executive, amid long-held speculation Saudi Arabia could become a fourth partner. "To be part of the core programme today in the same way as Japan, Italy and the UK, because of the pace we've achieved, and where we are today becomes quite challenging now," Herman Claesen, managing director of BAE's Future Combat Air System business told reporters on Tuesday. "The likelihood is diminishing all the time." The British-Italian-Japanese project, called Global Combat Air Programme, was announced in 2022 before a joint venture was formally launched in June 2025, with the aim of producing a next-generation stealth aircraft by 2035. Claesen said it was possible for a new partner to join, but it would be a decision for the three governments, and they would need to consider the potential delays that could come from any change to their existing agreement. The advantage of a new partner would be to expand the market for the aircraft, but Claesen said he was confident there would be sufficient demand. "There is, I guess, a bit of a queue forming of various nations who want to talk to the three governments," he said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Las Vegas Sands' new development part of S'pore's broader, more ambitious transformation: PM Wong Singapore Economic headwinds do not dampen outlook for new Marina Bay development: Las Vegas Sands president Business MAS records net profit of $19.7 billion, fuelled by investment gains Singapore Man charged with attempted murder of woman at Kallang Wave Mall Singapore CDL's long-time director Philip Yeo to depart after boardroom feud Singapore Ex-cleaner jailed over safety lapses linked to guard's death near 1-Altitude rooftop bar Life The Violinist, Singapore's first animated historical film, set for August 2026 release Singapore 'Nobody deserves to be alone': Why Mummy and Acha have fostered over 20 children in the past 22 years A rival Franco-German project to build a new fighter jet has made slower progress, plagued by delays and infighting over workshare and intellectual property rights. GCAP is being led by BAE in Britain, Leonardo in Italy and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan. Known as Tempest in Britain, a concept model of the aircraft was on display in Warton. BAE said it would be three to four metres (10 to 13 feet) longer than the Typhoon military jet and designed to fly a longer range. REUTERS
The Star
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Indeed, Glassdoor to cut 1,300 jobs amid AI integration, memo shows
FILE PHOTO: A man walks past the offices of Indeed in the centre of Dublin, Ireland, February 10, 2020. REUTERS/Phil Noble/ File Photo (Reuters) -Recruit Holdings, the Japanese parent of Indeed and Glassdoor, will reduce headcount by around 1,300 across the two job sites amid a shift in focus toward artificial intelligence, according to a memo seen by Reuters on Thursday. The cuts — representing about 6% of the HR technology segment workforce — are mostly in the U.S. and within the research and development, growth, and people and sustainability teams, but span all functions and several countries, the memo said. While the company did not provide a specific reason for the layoffs, Recruit CEO Hisayuki "Deko" Idekoba said "AI is changing the world, and we must adapt by ensuring our product delivers truly great experiences for job seekers and employers". U.S. companies, including tech giants Meta and Microsoft, have announced job cuts recently to prioritize AI investments as well as to navigate slowing economic growth. Recruit also said it would integrate Glassdoor operations into Indeed. As a result of which, Glassdoor CEO Christian Sutherland-Wong would leave the company, effective October 1. LaFawn Davis, chief people and sustainability officer of Indeed, will also step down effective September 1, and will be succeeded by Ayano Senaha, chief operating officer of Recruit. Recruit, which acquired Indeed in 2012 and Glassdoor in 2018, currently has 20,000 employees in the HR technology business unit. In 2024, Indeed announced plans to eliminate 1,000 positions. This followed a previous announcement a year earlier, when the company said it would cut about 2,200 jobs, representing 15% of its staff. (Reporting by Kritika Lamba in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)
Straits Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
UK inquiry to seek answers over Southport girls' murders
FILE PHOTO: Floral tributes left by members of the public are seen following the fatal knife attack on three young girls in July in Southport, Britain, September 2, 2024. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo LONDON - A public inquiry into the murders of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Britain last year opened on Tuesday, with the chair saying it must find answers for the victims' families and help to prevent any similar atrocity. Teenager Axel Rudakubana, who was obsessed with violence and genocide, launched the knife attack at the summer vacation event in northern England last July, killing the girls and wounding another 10. The incident shocked the nation and was followed by days of nationwide rioting. Just 17 at the time of the attack, Rudakubana was jailed in January for at least 52 years after he admitted the offences just as his trial was about to start. Prosecutors said his motive was not clear and it appeared to be simply the desire to commit mass murder. After the conviction, Prime Minister Keir Starmer ordered the inquiry into state failings as it emerged in the trial that Rudakubana had been referred to a counter-radicalisation scheme three times, but no action had been taken. Rudakubana had been involved in previous troubling incidents where he had been arrested carrying a knife, whilst he had purchased other weapons including machetes as well as ingredients to make Molotov cocktails. He also had an Al-Qaeda training manual and had produced the lethal poison ricin. "As the government at the highest levels has recognised, the perpetrator is responsible for one of the most egregious crimes in our country's history," said the inquiry chair, Adrian Fulford, who added that the killer's name would not be used out of sensitivity for the victims' families. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NDP celebrations to be held at 5 heartland sites, including Bishan and Punggol, on Aug 10 Singapore Keep citizens at the centre of public service, Chan Chun Sing tells civil servants Singapore Man arrested for allegedly throwing bottle at SMRT bus, injuring passenger Asia As Trump plays tariffs hard ball, vexed Asean countries have little choice but to play on Asia PM Anwar called out by his own lawmakers as Malaysia's judicial crisis heats up Singapore SIA flight from Brisbane to Singapore diverted to Perth due to technical issue Singapore New Draft Master Plan could reignite developers' interest to buy land Business Great Eastern could resume trading after delisting vote fails to pass; OCBC's exit offer lapses The inquiry will begin by looking at the teenager's history and repeated prior involvement with public bodies, such as the police, social services and mental health services, before a second phase examines the wider issue of children being drawn into violence, an increasing concern for British authorities. "We need to understand what went wrong and thereafter to identify and implement the most effective measures to ensure, to the extent that we are able, that there is no repetition," Fulford said. Lawyers for the three murdered girls - Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine - said they hoped it would uncover the truth. "We know that nothing the inquiry reveals, or subsequently recommends will change the unimaginable loss felt by the families of Elsie, Alice and Bebe, but we all now have a responsibility to ensure that something like this never happens again," they said in a statement. REUTERS
