Votes for 16 and 17-year-olds in general elections ‘long overdue’, says Swinney

Allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in general elections is “long overdue”, First Minister John Swinney has said.

The SNP leader welcomed plans announced on Thursday by the UK Labour Government to lower the voting age.

The change, which will come into force for the next Westminster election, comes several years after Holyrood lowered the voting age – a move Mr Swinney said had “made Scotland’s democracy stronger”.

Those aged 16 and 17 were allowed to vote in the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, and legislation passed by MSPs the following year allowed them to also vote in Scottish Parliament and council elections north of the border.

Mr Swinney said he had been “proud” to introduce the legislation that brought about that change.

The UK is finally catching up - this change is long overdue

Commenting on social media platform X, the First Minister added: “Young people here have a stake in shaping our future, and it made Scotland’s democracy stronger.

“The UK is finally catching up – this change is long overdue.”

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner earlier confirmed Labour will fulfil its manifesto pledge to reduce the voting age – bringing UK elections in line with those in Scotland and Wales.

She said: “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 16-year-olds the right to vote.”

SNP deputy Westminster leader Pete Wishart said the change comes “more than a decade after the SNP lowered the voting age to 16 in Scotland – and follows years of campaigning by SNP MPs, activists and younger people”.

The MP added: “Thousands of 16 and 17-year-olds have voted in Scottish elections since the SNP changed the law in 2015.

“It is good to see the UK Government finally following the SNP Government’s lead so that younger people can have their say at the next UK election.”

Labour MP for Livingston Gregor Poynton said it is “absolutely right that 16 and 17-year-olds will now have a voice in UK elections”.

He added: “In Scotland, young people have been voting in Holyrood and council elections for over a decade and they’ve brought energy and ideas to our democracy.

“Young people already contribute to society by working, paying taxes and serving in the military.

“They’ve got a stake in the future so it’s only right they should have a say in it.”

Those comments were echoed by Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland Alistair Carmichael, who said: “I am glad that we are seeing progress in votes for 16-year-olds from the UK Government.

“Sixteen and 17-year-olds have been voting in Scottish elections for some years now and the sky has not fallen in.

“Encouraging young people to take an interest in their future and their politics from an early age is a good thing.”