Oldham Youth Council credited for UK voting age bill
Oldham Youth Council has been credited with helping shape a government bill to lower the UK voting age to 16. MP Jim McMahon, who represents Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, introduced the Representation of the People Bill to the Commons earlier this month. The bill is based on work McMahon did with Oldham Youth Council in 2017, when they drafted a Private Members' Bill together. The council advocated for lowering the voting age, tougher political donation rules, zero tolerance of foreign interference, automatic voter registration, and measures against intimidation. McMahon previously won a Youth Voice Champion award for his campaign work on the issue.