Latest news with #ClaireCoutinho
The Independent
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
MP says allowing 16-year-olds to vote will distract them from GCSE's
A senior Tory, Claire Coutinho, has warned against lowering the voting age to 16, arguing it would distract teenagers from their exams. Ms Coutinho stated that elections often occur during exam season (May-July), adding unnecessary pressure on 16 and 17-year-olds. The government has announced the voting age will be lowered to 16 for the next election, expected by summer 2029, allowing approximately 1.5 million more teenagers to vote. This change will align UK -wide elections with Scotland and Wales and represents the biggest alteration to the electorate since 1969. Keir Starmer has encouraged 16-year-olds to be politically engaged as they can be in the future of their country.
Telegraph
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Votes for 16-year-olds will ‘disrupt exam season'
Sir Keir Starmer's plan to lower the voting age to 16 will disrupt exam season, a Tory shadow minister has claimed. Claire Coutinho, the shadow energy secretary, said young people do not need the 'added pressure' of deciding whether to focus on their exams or 'stay up to watch' political debates. Downing Street this week confirmed a proposal that will mean 1.5 million 16 and 17-year-olds will be able to vote at the next general election and potentially in local elections before then. The GCSE and A-Level exam season usually spans May and the first half of June – traditionally the time of year at which prime ministers have been most likely to call elections. Ms Coutinho, who has recently returned from maternity leave, told Times Radio: 'The thing that I worry about, and I might be speaking as a new mum, is that it's exam season. 'Elections are often in May, June, July and I don't really think 16 and 17-year-olds need this added pressure of being dragged into politics.' She added: 'Can you imagine saying, 'OK, I've got this right, it's a new right, I've got exam season coming up but maybe I should stay up to watch this political debate, maybe I should be out there campaigning.' 'Personally, I think 18 is the right age. I have no problem with politicians wanting to compete for younger votes [...] I don't think you have a massive difference between 18 and 16.' Ms Coutinho went on to say that because most 16 to 17-year-olds would be sitting GCSEs or AS-Level exams, 'I just don't think it is the right thing for them'. Sir Keir's son was taking his GCSEs when the last general election was called. The now-Prime Minister then borrowed an £18 million penthouse flat from Lord Alli, saying this allowed his son to study for his exams without walking past journalists or protesters. He said at the time: 'We had a situation where the election was called. Not what we expected. 'My son happened to be in the middle of his GCSEs. That means there are a lot of journalists outside the front door and in the street. I'm not complaining about that. 'But if you're 13, as my girl is, if you're 16, as my boy is, that's quite hard to navigate when you're concentrating on GCSEs.' Sir Keir's plans to drop the voting age to 16 comes after a surge in the popularity of Reform. Labour, like other Left-wing parties, has traditionally been more attractive to younger people. Downing Street is expected to press ahead with the reform despite it not having been planned for Labour's first parliamentary session, suggesting an element of panic over the next national poll. A Telegraph analysis suggested that giving 16-year-olds the vote will hand nine Commons seats to Labour that would otherwise have gone to Reform. Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, said the plans amounted to 'an attempt to rig the political system' but vowed to give Labour 'a nasty surprise' amid his rising social media popularity.
The Independent
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Top Tory says 16-year-olds shouldn't vote because it will ‘distract them from exams'
A senior Tory has warned 16 and 17-year olds should not be allowed to vote because it will distract them from their exams. Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho said if the voting age is lowered teenagers, will face choosing between focusing on their studies or 'staying up to watch political debates'. The senior MP said elections are often in May, June and July and warned pupils do not need 'this added pressure of being dragged into politics '. The voting age is to be lowered to 16 in time for the next election, the government has announced in a move that would allow around 1.5 million more teenagers to cast a ballot. The change will bring UK-wide elections in line with Scotland and Wales by the time the country next goes to the polls, due by the summer of 2029 at the latest. The 'seismic' development, which is part of a raft of measures set to be introduced through a new Elections Bill, is the biggest change to the electorate since 1969 when the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18. Keir Starmer encouraged 16 and 17 year olds to use their vote at next election. No 10 said the PM would 'absolutely encourage them to be as engaged as they can be in the future of their country'. Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner said: 'For too long public trust in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline. 'We are taking action to break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in UK democracy… and delivering on our manifesto commitment to give 16-year-olds the right to vote.' Sixteen-year-olds already work, pay taxes and serve in the military, ministers point out. But, speaking to Times Radio, Ms Coutinho said: 'Can you imagine saying, OK, I've got this right. It's a new right. I've got exam season coming up, but maybe I should stay up to watch this political debate. 'Maybe I should be out there campaigning. Personally, I think 18 is the right age. I have no problem with politicians wanting to compete for younger votes…but I don't think you have a massive difference between 18 and 16. And like I say, most 16, 17 year olds are going to be in exam season. And I just don't think it is the right thing for them.' She added: 'The thing that I worry about and I might be speaking as a new mum is that it's exam season; elections are often in May, June, July and I don't really think 16 and 17 year olds need this added pressure of being dragged into politics.'
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Labour's move to create official definition of Islamophobia is condemned as 'nonsensical'
Labour 's move to create an official definition of Islamophobia is about 'policing thinking and speech' rather than protecting Muslims, Sir Trevor Phillips has said. The former chairman of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission said it was 'nonsensical' to introduce a government-backed definition because there were plenty of existing laws protecting Muslims from hate crimes. He branded it a 'Leninist manoeuvre' because it could be used to shut down free speech and legitimate criticism about some aspects of Islam. Speaking at a debate in Parliament, he added: 'If you are a Muslim in Britain are you [already] protected? Yes. End of story. We don't need a definition. We have perfect legal remedies against discrimination. There are much more important things to deal with.' He said it was 'illiterate' to suggest that Muslims are 'a race' for the purposes of drawing up a definition. Tory MP Claire Coutinho, a former Cabinet minister, said a definition was being drawn up by the 'back door' without 'democratic consent'. She warned it is likely to be counterproductive because it could spark a 'backlash' against Muslims rather than help to protect them, in the same way trans activists were derided after the Supreme Court 's landmark ruling on gender being based on biological sex in April went against them. 'This is not commanding public support. It's a push from radical activists,' she added. She warned it could lead to public sector workers, as well as university staff or students, living in fear of facing disciplinary action if accused of doing or saying something that falls foul of the definition. While there is a definition for anti-Semitism, set out by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, Sir Trevor and Ms Coutinho said this made sense because it was launched specifically to deal with the issue of Holocaust denial. But there was no equivalent purpose for defining Islamophobia, they added. The Tories' housing and local government spokesman, Kevin Hollinrake, said Labour's move was purely 'for political reasons' and would be a 'disaster' for free speech. Baroness Spielman, the former boss of schools watchdog Ofsted, said it threatened to entrench ultra-conservative interpretations of Islam. She told how she had once backed a primary school headteacher who did not want six and seven-year-old girls being forced into wearing hijabs in the classroom, adding: 'But I had 1,100 letters accusing me of Islamophobia for backing the headteacher of the primary school. It had a chilling effect on other schools.' She said creating an official definition of Islamophobia would make it harder to tackle such attitudes because it could be used to silence legitimate concerns. The cross-party debate was hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Freedom of Speech, led by Tory MP Richard Holden. He warned that introducing an official definition could create a 'two-tier' system that 'protects some people's views above some other people's views'. Labour commissioned the work to devise a 'non-statutory' definition of Islamophobia in what it says is a move to combat anti-Muslim abuse. But there are fears it could lead to a blasphemy law by the back door and stifle legitimate criticism of Islam. Critics suspect the move is politically motivated to hang on to the large Muslim vote Labour enjoys in swathes of the country. The party has set up a working group, whose chairman is former Tory Dominic Grieve, to devise the definition. Its call for evidence closes on Saturday.
The Independent
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
MP accused of ‘hiding' for Commons statement says she was looking after her baby
An MP has hit back at Energy Secretary Ed Miliband for accusing her of 'going into hiding' when she missed a statement on climate change, telling MPs she was actually looking after her son. Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho said Mr Miliband should reconsider his remarks, claiming it is an attitude faced by many new mothers when they return to work. Mr Miliband had pointed out the Conservative shadow minister's absence on Monday as he gave a statement to the Commons on climate and nature. He said: 'The trouble is we're in a situation now where the shadow secretary of state goes into hiding when there's a statement about the climate crisis, because it's just too embarrassing to try and articulate the opposition's position.' This was followed by energy minister Kerry McCarthy, who also remarked on her prior absence during energy questions on Tuesday. Ms Coutinho had asked her why the Government is 'offshoring' British industries, and replacing them with dirtier imports with higher emissions. Ms McCarthy replied: 'Perhaps if (she) had been here yesterday, she'd have been able to engage with the Secretary of State about that then.' Ms Coutinho later told MPs she had been missing from the Commons as she was looking after her son Rafael. The MP for East Surrey has recently returned to the Commons from maternity leave. Maternity leave for ministers and paid opposition figures, normally shadow secretaries of state, was introduced by the Conservative government in 2021. It entitles them to six months of maternity leave. She upbraided Mr Miliband as she began her questions to him. She said: 'I will just briefly say that yesterday the Secretary of State said I was hiding, when I was in fact with my six-month old baby who I know he's aware of. 'So, on behalf of all young mums who face these kinds of comments from their first few weeks back to work, can I gently suggest that he reflects on his remarks?' Mr Miliband apologised, telling her: 'I completely respect her decision to be with her young baby, and there was no offence intended. I think it's very, very important that we understand the needs of new parents and indeed parents across the country.' Ms Coutinho went on to ask the Government why it is now paying £82 per megawatt hour for offshore wind, up from £72 last year. 'That's the price he's paid for offshore wind, and he's set to do the same this year. And that's before the extra cost for grid for wasted wind and backup which are going through the roof thanks to his policies,' she said. 'Yesterday he admitted to radical honesty, will he either admit that he can't add up or that his policies can't bring down bills?' Mr Miliband said: 'She is gambling on fossil fuels, the same thing she did which led us to the worst cost-of-living crisis in our country's history. ' Family finances wrecked, business finances wrecked and public finances wrecked. The only way to bring down bills for good is cheap, home-grown power that we can control. We have an energy security plan, they have an energy surrender plan.'
