Jeremy Corbyn’s new party could be the big winner from Keir Starmer’s plan to give 16-year-olds the vote, it was revealed today.
A poll has found the as-yet unnamed left-wing outfit is set to suck up more than a fifth of support under the controversial policy.
Some 24 per cent of those aged 16 and 17 would back Labour at an election, but that was down from 30 per cent in the absence of Corbyn’s party. It was barely more than the 23 per cent attracted to Nigel Farage’s Reform.
The Green Party looks set to be the biggest loser, according to the research by More in Common. Its vote share would slump from 14 per cent to just 6 per cent.
The findings in the poll, conducted for the Sunday Times, suggests that the proposals could be far less of a boost for Labour than thought.
Political opponents have accused Sir Keir of trying to rig the system as younger voters are considered more left-leaning.
The change – due to be in place for the next general election – is the most dramatic to the franchise since the voting age fell from 21 to 18 in 1969.
It would bring the Westminster election into line with the arrangements already in place for Holyrood and the Senedd.
Luke Tryl of More in Common said: ‘It seems the fragmentation of politics is not limited to adults.
‘This poll of more than one thousand 16 and 17-year-olds shows that Corbyn’s new party, Reform UK and Labour would be in a virtual three-way tie among this group of soon-to-be voters.
‘There is also a stark gender gap in these older teens’ voting preferences, with boys much more likely than girls to support parties of the right.
‘That difference extends into their wider worldview too, with a third of boys saying the UK would be better off with a return to traditional gender roles.’
Some 45 per cent of boys aged 16-17 said they would support either Reform or the Tories at an election.
That was far higher than the 24 per cent of girls who said the same.
Reform’s vote share was 25 per cent among boys, and 19 per cent among girls.
A paltry 5 per cent of girls were minded to back the Conservatives.
The poll also gave a glimpse into the views of young people, with the top words they used to describe their world including ‘hard’, ‘difficult’, ‘challenging’, ‘stressful’ and ‘scary’.
Some 58 per cent of boys rated their life satisfaction as seven out of 10 or higher. But the figure for girls was only 37 per cent.
Almost a quarter reported suffering from anxiety, with the level reaching 34 per cent among girls.