The Student Room Group

George Osborne: Majority of MPs Now Support Votes For 16 & 17 Year Olds

https://twitter.com/george_osborne/status/964141764981481473

George Osborne: "More Tory MPs now support votes for 16yr olds. By my count, Govn now doesn’t have a majority to stop it. Choice: lose in Commons, 16yr olds get vote & Tories lose even more support of young people; or back votes at 16 & get some credit for major social reform. Hmmm. Tough one."

Interesting, time to pop out a bag of popcorn.

It would also be lol if this were passed during a term with Theresa May and the Conservatives in power :biggrin:
(edited 6 years ago)
Gotta get em while they're young.

That said, he's probably well aware of the reversal (rightwards) in political views re the current generation relative to the Millennials just before them. :wink: But the current Tories are in no shape to capitalise on that...
(edited 6 years ago)
Theresa May needs a radical overhaul of her policies very soon, their stance on university fees are expensive and unsustainable, the NHS needs a better funding formula and a growing socialist movement within the youth threatening her also with more people within her own party calling for 16 year old votes the conservatives are doomed.
Original post by The PoliticalGuy
Theresa May needs a radical overhaul of her policies very soon, their stance on university fees are expensive and unsustainable, the NHS needs a better funding formula and a growing socialist movement within the youth threatening her also with more people within her own party calling for 16 year old votes the conservatives are doomed.


How is their stance on university fees 'unsustainable'.
(edited 6 years ago)
Reply 4
Although the government can't stop it i do believe that they can delay it through a few measures.
Original post by Rakas21
Although the government can't stop it i do believe that they can delay it through a few measures.


What measures do you think they will use to delay it?
Original post by The PoliticalGuy
Theresa May needs a radical overhaul of her policies very soon, their stance on university fees are expensive and unsustainable, the NHS needs a better funding formula and a growing socialist movement within the youth threatening her also with more people within her own party calling for 16 year old votes the conservatives are doomed.


University fees may be expensive but not everyone goes into further education so I believe it’s foolish to charge the average taxpayer more to subsidise those going to university. Perhaps charging different rates depending on the course and university may solve that, whilst diminishing taxes on your average tax payer.
The Tories have been putting more money into the NHS with limited success... which suggests the NHS is under too much pressure from a growing population and a very limited private sector along with funding not effectively going into emergency services.
Tory policies can and definitely have worked ( look to the age of Thatcher and Major) but the growing socialist movement so to speak is because of more people being involved with politics, particularly from what we call millennials. I’d argue that would be countered by a more centre right generation that will come into prominence over the next few years, so it’s not a threat in the Tories.
As for lowering the voting age, I myself am against it, though if it does come to fruition so be it, I can’t be too disappointed that would happen as long as it doesn’t prompt the voting age to decrease more than that, though I’d advise for the voting age to remain as it is, because it can lead to a slippery slope of wanting to decrease it, and the arguments already stated elsewhere are what I’d agree to.
(edited 6 years ago)
Stupid, they should be raised if anything. If 16 year olds should be given the vote so should 12 year olds and so on.
Right, and the odds of his count actually being right?
As a 17 year old tory, if we allowed 16 year olds to vote, the conservatives would lose their "majority". Considering the idea that people support labour as a student, and then as they progress through life become more conservative,, as their social economic value increases. Ironic, itis hard to imagine why one would remain politcally affiliated to a party, which no longer supports legislations or policies that benefit the individual, I.E labour, who make irrational claims, to entice younger votes, which unforunately the majority don't seem to understand the mechanisms of politics and economics; the labour party are notoriously known making this foul trickeries and idiotic statement, such as the abolisition of tuition fees, having an envy towards private schools (which help benefit social mobility, evidence: I recieved a 98% scholarship to Harrow School) and having a maximum wage*. It's ludicrous, the only reason why previous smalle runiverities such as Leicester and Nottigham grew was because of financial investment from tution fees, otherwise only Oxbridge would dominate
Original post by CountBrandenburg
University fees may be expensive but not everyone goes into further education so I believe it’s foolish to charge the average taxpayer more to subsidise those going to university. Perhaps charging different rates depending on the course and university may solve that, whilst diminishing taxes on your average tax payer.


Well what about those who do take the option of further education it is still expensive who is asking for the average taxpayer to pay more, labour were planning on raisng corporation tax to pay for the abolition of the fees.

The Tories have been putting more money into the NHS with limited success... which suggests the NHS is under too much pressure from a growing population and a very limited private sector along with funding not effectively going into emergency services.


This is why I am calling for a improved funding formula because too much money is being wasted by the NHS on meaningless things when beds are running out corridor spaces are running out and clean sheets,however I do agree with you on the point of a growing population straining the NHS and I personally believe tougher measures must be brought in to stop unsubscribed migrants who don't have access to the NHS coming in and receiving treatment, nobody wants our health service to become a border force but something must be done.

Tory policies can and definitely have worked ( look to the age of Thatcher and Major) but the growing socialist movement so to speak is because of more people being involved with politics, particularly from what we call millennials. I’d argue that would be countered by a more centre right generation that will come into prominence over the next few years, so it’s not a threat in the Tories


Please don't start the thatcher argument,The growing socialist movement is because of people and the average Joe are sick of the austerity ways of the conservatives and the youth getting more involved in politics because they have been forgotten as the non-voting population.

As for lowering the voting age, I myself am against it, though if it does come to fruition so be it, I can’t be too disappointed that would happen as long as it doesn’t prompt the voting age to decrease more than that, though I’d advise for the voting age to remain as it is


I am for it being 16 is far to the point of a mature age and they could make political decisions themselves. I myself was ready to vote at the age of 12 and the same goes for many it may result in a lower turnout but it would also result in a true representation fot hpolitical system in the UK
(edited 6 years ago)
Original post by The PoliticalGuy
Please don't start the thatcher argument, The growing socialist movement is because of people and the average Joe are sick of the austerity ways of the conservatives and the youth getting more involved in politics because they have been forgotten as the non-voting population.


Well, that's only partially true. And a lot of the reasons why the youth are disenfranchised are because of New Labour policies.

Furthermore, a large reason why the youth are moving toward socialist policies owns itself to the fact that the youth are f*cking stupid. There is a huge, edgy, 'against the state quo' culture nowadays, and teens eat it up without knowing the first damn thing about socialism or what it entails. They hear the word 'equality' and it cheers em up, conforming them to their little bubbles and making them think they're right.
Original post by The PoliticalGuy
Well what about those who do take the option of further education it is still expensive who is asking for the average taxpayer to pay more, labour were planning on raisng corporation tax to pay for the abolition of the fees.


I don't think raising Corporation tax is the way to go, since it gives less incentive for businesses to invest into the economy. The fact is Corbyn is not even sure whether he would do that, calling it an ambition and I'm sure that wouldn't go down well in parliament. Conversely, I don't believe it's fair on us all to pay for those going to university. I am all up for subsidies but I don't think at that point should be the government's jurisdiction, instead it should be schemes by universities and companies who do that. That's why different university courses should charge different tuition fees, because some are more strenuous and costly than others, which can be combated by schemes run to make it available to your average Joe.

Original post by The PoliticalGuy
This is why I am calling for a improved funding formula because too much money is being wasted by the NHS on meaningless things when beds are running out corridor spaces are running out and clean sheets,however I do agree with you on the point of a growing population straining the NHS and I personally believe tougher measures must be brought in to stop unsubscribed migrants who don't have access to the NHS coming in and receiving treatment, nobody wants our health service to become a border force but something must be done.


I think we can agree on your last point there, however I firmly believe given the size of the NHS, trying to maintain it at its current size is just asking for it to collapse. Privatisation can be a good thing, where things can be made more cost effective to the taxpayer whilst ensuring, with bits of regulation, that a quality service is maintained, and people have more of a choice of higher quality healthcare (I still believe the private sector here is vastly underdeveloped)

Original post by The PoliticalGuy
Please don't start the thatcher argument,The growing socialist movement is because of people and the average Joe are sick of the austerity ways of the conservatives and the youth getting more involved in politics because they have been forgotten as the non-voting population.

Austerity is a word thrown around a lot when talking about Tory governments, and whilst I believe May has facilitated that, I don't think lower public expenditure is necessary bad. (it should be obvious now that I am a very laissez-faire sort of person) Like I said, we're entering an era of a more conservative and right wing youth, and whilst it is highly likely we will have a Labour government in the next decade, it will come before an effective Conservative one. Often, Labour governments overspend on issues with limited successes, and whilst under Tory governments, people will forget the negatives of Labour. Labour is notorious for attracting people with far fetched policies without much way of implementing them properly (apart from raising taxes) People are getting more involved with politics because we have a generation who wasn't too interested in politics... it just happens may of new voters last election were Millennials, who are generally more left leaning. People will always complain about Conservative governments but forget these are usually the more economically stable governments.

Original post by The PoliticalGuy
I am for it being 16 is far to the point of a mature age and they could make political decisions themselves. I myself was ready to vote at the age of 12 and the same goes for many it may result in a lower turnout but it would also result in a true representation fot hpolitical system in the UK


I don't agree with you there, I think at that age we are all just getting used to the world around us and beginning to get real life experience. It is those years between 16-18 where people develop a lot and form a lot of opinions. I definitely would not have been ready at 12 to vote and I guarantee most people wouldn't. Thus it is important to have that transitional age as such where you gain experience of the world and once you turn 18 and are legally an adult, you can take full responsibilities for your actions and how they affect society
It is odd to see some Tories lending their weight to this idea, only shows how 'out of touch' they really are whilst pretending to be so with it. Electoral suicide, the NUT and Momentum will be all over the kids at school and have them programmed in tune with the Labourite propaganda. Tories will prove even dumber than they look if they fall for it and Osborne is an idiot.
Original post by The PoliticalGuy
Theresa May needs a radical overhaul of her policies very soon, their stance on university fees are expensive and unsustainable, the NHS needs a better funding formula and a growing socialist movement within the youth threatening her also with more people within her own party calling for 16 year old votes the conservatives are doomed.


It's a beautiful situation.


Original post by Science99999
As a 17 year old tory, if we allowed 16 year olds to vote, the conservatives would lose their "majority". Considering the idea that people support labour as a student, and then as they progress through life become more conservative,,


That relies on people getting things like mortgages. Which your party seem determined to ensure stops happening.
(edited 6 years ago)
Original post by zhog
It is odd to see some Tories lending their weight to this idea, only shows how 'out of touch' they really are whilst pretending to be so with it. Electoral suicide, the NUT and Momentum will be all over the kids at school and have them programmed in tune with the Labourite propaganda. Tories will prove even dumber than they look if they fall for it and Osborne is an idiot.


Maybe they have principles? I mean it's fine by me if you want to portray your own side as michevilian scumbags that hate young people. Makes our job easier.

It isn't new anyway. I remember when I was a teenager, whilst Cameron was in his "hug a husky" green liberal tory phase, Cameron was saying 16 yr olds should be able to do more such as drink in pubs. This Toryism with a kinder youthful appearance worked for Cameron in 2010 so it isn't without strategic merit.

The Conservatives have a big problem with young people. They can either treat young people as the enemy and haemorrhage more and more of their votes to labour whilst relying on an ever dwindling older population to make up the lost youth vote (bear in mind by youth we are talking under 50 hear, lol) or they can actually try and win over the young by offering them something other than blatantly packaged ****.

Of course this could just end up playing into Labour's hand. The Tories right now do not want to be adding an extra chunk to the youth vote and be seen to be capitulating to Labour. The young would not reward the Tories with their vote unless they actually offered more, which their defunct ideology and fear of playing in Labour's home turf will not allow them to do. They are in a bit of a rock and hard place. Excellent :biggrin:
(edited 6 years ago)
Original post by ChaoticButterfly


Of course this could just end up playing into Labour's hand. The Tories right now do not want to be adding an extra chunk to the youth vote and be seen to be capitulating to Labour. The young would not reward the Tories with their vote unless they actually offered more, which their defunct ideology and fear of playing in Labour's home turf will not allow them to do. They are in a bit of a rock and hard place. Excellent :biggrin:


The Tory leadership is weak and wobbly at the moment, keeps being sucked into Labour's agenda because it doesn't have one of its own. I'd raise voting age for Parliament to 40, 18 for council elections.
Original post by zhog

I'd raise voting age for Parliament to 40,


This is too funny :rofl:

Good luck ever doing that without using tanks.
(edited 6 years ago)

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