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If Britain truly values democracy we must give 16-year-olds the vote

The subject will be debated in the Commons on Friday—and I will make the case for change

by Caroline Lucas / November 1, 2017 / Leave a comment
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Young voters outside a polling station in south London in June. Photo: NEWZULU/Melinda Nagy/NEWZULU/PA Images

Read more: Was 8th June the revenge of the millennials?

It is easy to look back on the last two years in politics and feel a sense of despair. A divisive EU referendum followed by a bitter general election, and now the ongoing chaos surrounding the government as it attempts to manage the Brexit process.

In the midst of these most trying times there are reasons to find hope, too. Not least the rise in young people’s interest in politics. June’s general election saw us turn a corner after two decades of disproportionately low turnout among young voters. 64 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds headed to the polls to have their say in Britain’s future. It was the highest youth turnout in 25 years.

This was an election which the Conservatives attempted to frame entirely around the EU referendum and there is a subtle irony in the fact that June’s vote mobilised a swathe of voters whose voices were lost as the results of the EU referendum trickled in and the reality of Brexit broke.

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About this author

Caroline Lucas
Caroline Lucas is Co-Leader of the Green Party
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