Oldham Youth Council credited for UK voting age bill

Oldham's young people are on the brink of gaining voting rights at 16 after years of campaigning by the town's youth council. The Representation of the People Bill, introduced to Parliament earlier this month, would lower the UK voting age and is based on work done by Oldham Youth Council with local MP Jim McMahon back in 2017.

McMahon, who represents Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, has been campaigning for votes at 16 for years. He credits the youth council with helping draft the original proposals that now form the basis of the government bill. The council pushed for not just lowering the voting age but also tougher rules on political donations, automatic voter registration, and protection from intimidation.

The Oldham MP's previous attempt to pass similar legislation through a Private Members' Bill ran out of time under the last government. However, his persistence earned him the Youth Voice Champion award in 2017, beating out nominees including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. McMahon says the youth council has 'never stopped leading' on the issue.

Oldham Council made history by becoming the first in the country to formally recognise its Youth Council in the constitution, giving young people real powers to submit motions to Full Council. McMahon argues this wasn't symbolic but structural-it gave young people a seat at the table. He says the bill's progress shows that when you give young people power, they use it responsibly.