article_snippet.sent: Labour would lower the voting age to 16, the party confirmed yesterday as Ed Miliband launched the party education manifesto.
article_snippet.sent: the first change in the voting age since 1969 – would enfranchise more than 1.5million 16 and 17-year-olds.
article_snippet.sent: Party sources believe that idealistic youngsters are more likely to vote Labour.
article_snippet.sent: The idea is also backed by the Lib Dems.
article_snippet.sent: But polls show that the public, including most 16-year-olds, do not support The idea.
article_snippet.sent: The idea is also opposed by the Conservatives.
article_snippet.sent: David Cameron said this year David Cameron was willing to hold a Commons vote on the issue, but did not support the move.
article_snippet.sent: Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps dismissed calls to lower the voting age to 16 when the issue was raised last year.
article_snippet.sent: Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps warned the move would ‘politicise the classroom, with votes for youngsters who are still at school’.