In the Conservative Party's leadership contest to replace Boris Johnson, children as young as 15 are eligible to vote—the age at which they can join the party. This contrasts with UK general elections, where the voting age is 18. The issue has sparked debate among young Tory members.
Seventeen-year-old Aryan Ramkumar, a Conservative member from London, voted for Rishi Sunak but does not support extending voting rights to under-18s in general elections. 'It's important for people aged 16 and above to give their opinion,' he said, 'but the fate of the country should not be up to under-18s who do not pay taxes, have mortgages, or support families.'
Sixteen-year-old James Hawkes from Stockton-on-Tees backed Liz Truss, citing her policies and international standing. He argued that under-18 Tory members are likely politically informed because they pay to join, but acknowledged a risk of 'undue influence' for those without knowledge.
Critics accuse the Conservatives of hypocrisy. Hasan Patel, 19, a Young Labour activist, noted that 16-year-olds can vote in Scottish and Welsh elections but not in UK general elections. 'It shows quite a lot of hypocrisy,' he said.
Despite the inclusion of under-18s, research suggests they are unlikely to sway the result, as most Tory members are over 45. The party's 2019 manifesto opposed lowering the voting age to 16 for general elections.
