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BBC News
20-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Hull teenagers offer view on lowering of voting age
Young people in Hull have reacted to the government's decision to lower the age of voting to the voting age from 18 to 16 means there could be over 1.5 million more potential voters at the next general Hand, 18, said she had mixed feelings about the move, adding that while she felt voting age should be in line with the age for consent, some might be "too immature". Emma Hardy, MP for Hull West and Haltemprice, said the decision "draws us into line" with Scotland and Wales, where 16-year-olds have been able to vote for a number of years. Hardy said: "To me, it makes sense. They've been able to vote from 16 in Scotland for years. They've been able to vote from 16 in Wales for years, and this draws us into line. It was something that was in our manifesto. "It's something that I spoke to people about ahead of the election, and I'm really pleased to see that we're fulfilling the promises that we made."Hardy has also spearheaded the future parliament programme, run by Hull College and the University of Hull. The scheme was launched in 2024 to help increase political awareness and engagement among young people in the city. Hull has historically had some of the lowest turnouts in the UK at general and local elections. Bethany Hand, 18, was among those who attended an event at University of Hull on Friday. She said she had mixed feelings about lowering the age of voting to 16. "If the age of consent is 16, and they can have that opinion, that choice, then they should also have the choice to vote for their future".However, she was also concerned that some 16-year-olds would be too immature. "Some of them might vote [for] the wrong person for a laugh, or parents [or] friends could pressure them into voting for someone," she said. Oscar Coupe, a university student, said he thought lowering the age limit was the correct said: "It's easy to say that 16 and 17 year olds are impressionable… but I think there's plenty of adults also very impressionable."There is not political support across the parties on lowering the voting age. Reform are against the measure and the Conservative party question why 16-year-olds will be able to vote but not "marry, go to war, or even stand in elections".Liberal Democrat Sarah Olney, MP for Richmond Park, said her party had campaigned for a lowering of the voting age for "well over 30 years" and so welcomed the Richard Tice, MP for Boston and Skegness, said: "We think it's completely wrong that youngsters who are still legally children should be able to vote. "It's interesting that they themselves are split down the middle as to whether or not they should be given the right to vote."The next election is due to be held by August 2029 at the latest, as the maximum term for parliament is five years from when it first formed. However, the prime minster has the option of calling an early election if he chooses to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Theatre director among those honoured by King
The founder of a Hull theatre for children with learning disabilities has been named in the King's Birthday Honours list. Daniel Swift, 28, who set up the Concrete Youth charity in 2019, was awarded a MBE for services to the arts and to people with disabilities. Mr Swift said he was "incredibly grateful and honoured". Other people in East Yorkshire and Hull who were honoured include Leon Myers, head teacher of Swinemoor Primary School in Beverley, Michael Mitchell, who runs the Developing Minds project, Hull College vice principal Ranjit Singh, Jacqueline Crawford and Anita Barnard. Mr Swift said: "I'm excited that this recognition marks a moment of visibility for sensory theatre created with and for audiences labelled with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD)." He added that the honour reflected "the collective efforts of so many incredible colleagues, collaborators and artists who are dedicated to making the arts more inclusive". He has run special school workshops and supported young people who wish to embark on a career in accessible theatre and produced the first ever West End production specifically designed for audiences labelled with PMLD. Also awarded a MBE is John Thirkettle, who is the manager of Mental Health Operations at Humberside Police. The service ensures that officers responding to emergency calls get the most appropriate care and support for people with mental health issues, the force said. Mr Mitchell will receive a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his work supporting young people entering the railway industry. The Developing Minds project aims to get youngsters from deprived areas into rail engineering and IT. Mr Myers, meanwhile, has been awarded a MBE for services to education. Ms Crawford, who was awarded a MBE for services to the community in Goole, and Ms Barnard, who received a MBE for her work in foster care in the East Riding, were also honoured. Elsewhere, Mr Singh was awarded an OBE for services to further education. He said it was an "incredible honour". "This recognition is a reflection of all the amazing staff at Hull College, who I have the privilege of working with every day," he said. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. King's Birthday Honours: How does the UK honours system work?
