Remainer plot to let 16-year-olds and EU citizens have the vote could derail Boris Johnson’s Christmas election plan
A REMAINER plot to let teens and EU citizens have the vote could cause “chaos” for Boris Johnson’s Christmas election plan this afternoon.
Labour, Lib Dems and SNP all want the voting age lowered to 16 years old but No10 has dismissed the idea claiming it would result in a “logistical burden”.
TEENAGE SCREAMS
The anti-Brexit group see their tactic as a way of attracting more votes at the upcoming election - with younger voters and teens more likely to back them.
This would then lead to more Remainer MPs that could help block Boris Johnson's Brexit deal bill being pushed through the Commons.
No10 has today threatened to pull the whole election bill if its amended to give younger people or EU citizens the vote.
This afternoon Labour MP Stephen Doughty announced he had tabled an amendment to the general election bill to which would allow 16 and 17 year olds the chance to cast their ballot.
He said: "I have now tabled my simple and straightforward #VotesAt16 Amendment. Thanks to all colleagues who have signed. The Government have unfortunately tried to make it as difficult to table, select and vote on amendments as possible."
And Labour boss Jeremy Corbyn is set to back it, he revealed earlier.
The SNP have tabled a similar version - but including EU citizens in there too.
It came as:
- Boris Johnson's Christmas election looks to be on as Jeremy Corbyn FINALLY backs poll – but Brexit is put on ice
- Ex Tories Dominic Grieve and Guto Bebb wrote to EU bosses to ask them for an EIGHT month extension so there's time for a second referendum
- Just last night the PM's latest attempt to force a festive poll was torpedoed by Labour, making it short of the 434 MPs needed to get it through
- Follow the action with our live blog
Labour have long-campaigned for the voting age to be lowered, with the policy part of their 2017 election manifesto.
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said last month: "If you're 16, we want you to have a vote".
The most important thing for 16-year-olds is - let's give them the vote, let's trust them.
John McDonnell
"The most important thing for 16-year-olds is - let's give them the vote, let's trust them."
Lib Dem boss Jo Swinson wants younger voters to have a say in “all different elections”.
She said: “It works well, the sky has not fallen in, and I think that those should be introduced for elections across the House and across all different elections."
While the SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford said: "It is the priority to make sure that we legislate that in future our young people and our EU nationals are given due respect.
“But the priority we face in the short term is to make sure that we come together to stop this damaging Brexit that the Prime Minister wants to put through.”
CAUSING CHAOS
Voters are now set to go to the polls in the second week of December, but MPs are still wrangling over the exact date ahead of a crunch vote in the Commons tonight.
No10 have confirmed it is not feasible to lower the voting age in time – with millions needed to be added to the electoral role in a matter of weeks.
A spokesman said: "Changing the election franchise days before an election could cause administrative chaos.
"There would be between 2.4 million to three million people added to the electoral roll at the last minute with no idea on the cost or logistical burden this could cause.
"This may in turn lead to delays with polling cards, postal votes and at polling stations that could undermine everyone's ability to vote in the election.
Changing the election franchise days before an election could cause administrative chaos.
No10 spokesman
"It would also mean EU nationals in the UK enjoying wider voting rights than UK nationals in any other country other than Ireland.
"Citizenship requirements are the norm in national elections in democracies including the United Kingdom."
The warning comes as Jeremy Corbyn performed a U-turn to back an early December election – despite dodging a Commons vote on it three times.
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The Labour boss made the U-turn after getting assurances from the EU that a no deal Brexit was “off the table”.
Mr Corbyn said today that he “can’t wait” to take on the Tories at the ballot boxes.
He told the BBC: “We are going out there to fight an election campaign and I can’t wait to get out there on the streets in every town and village in this country – Labour will be there giving a message of real hope where this government offers nothing.”
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