At the age of 16, you can get a full-time job, join the armed forces, have children, receive social security benefits, get married, and pay taxes - these are some of the most important features of adult life. Yet the right to decide who sets those taxes is denied to 16- and 17-year-olds.
For over two years, Votes at 16, the young people-led coalition of children's charities (including NCB) has campaigned to get the voting age lowered.
But in the next general election 16- and 17-year-olds will again be observers rather than participants in the electoral process. Who can blame young people for feeling powerless and undervalued when their lives have become a political ping-pong ball and they have no real say in who will next run the country?
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
