The Representation of the People Bill returned to the House of Commons for its Report Stage last week, and Labour MPs voted it through, bringing votes for 16-year-olds across the UK another step closer.
Labour accused of gerrymandering
The move is described as an attempt at election gerrymandering, with Labour expected to benefit from the votes of 16 and 17-year-olds. Critics point to the same Labour MPs who argue that 16 and 17-year-olds are not mature enough to serve on a jury, decide to smoke, or get a tattoo.
Opponents argue that either 16 and 17-year-olds are mature enough to do all these things or none of them. The article states opposition to reducing the voting age.
Burnham's economic warnings
Andy Burnham is said to be right to talk about the 1970s, not as a Golden Age, but because his Labour government is taking the country back there. The comparison is drawn with 'Sunny Jim' Callaghan, who did not see the looming financial crisis of 1976 and the IMF bailout coming.
Burnham's spending and forthcoming anti-growth business tax rises are described as collapsing the confidence of the money markets. The article quotes Margaret Thatcher: “Socialist governments… always run out of other people’s money”.
Early election speculation dismissed
There is continued speculation about Burnham calling an early General Election, with Reform hit by negative allegations and its support dipping, and only two years since the Conservative Party was trounced.
The article dismisses the idea, stating that Burnham would certainly lose MPs if he went to the electorate now, and concludes that an early election cannot be seen happening.
