Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
England and Northern Ireland do not allow voting for those aged 16 to 17, while Wales and Scotland have already enacted such legislation.
If someone can go to war for their country and pay taxes, why should they not be entitled to vote? It is a matter of equality; the north-west has a history of extending voting rights. The question urges the government to do what is right and extend the franchise to 16 and 17-year-olds in England and Northern Ireland.
In the United Kingdom, the devolved Administrations make decisions within their competence but the UK Government has no intention of altering the franchise to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote. The government is focused on priorities such as investing in the NHS, fighting crime, improving education, and levelling up the economy.
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Assessment & feedback
The importance of constitutional changes versus current governmental priorities was not directly addressed.
Response accuracy