Politics

Labour call to lower voting age

Published

11 years ago

April 20, 2015

IN THE RUN up to the General Election, Labour have called for a lowering of the voting age from 18 to 16. One of Labour’s key manifesto pledges will give

Could be a vote winner : Labour
pledge to reduce voting age

approximately 1.5million more young people the vote, should Labour be elected. In Wales Labour say that 75,000 16- 17 year olds are currently ‘being denied’ the chance to have their say, and that changing that would be an early priority for a Labour government. Shadow Welsh Secretary, Owen Smith, said of the policy: “There is a real appetite amongst young people to play an active part in our politics. In the first week of this campaign, I visited every seat in Wales and was bowled over by the sheer number of young people that have been motivated to stand up and make a diff erence in this election.

“If the Tories had supported Labour’s calls to lower the voting age, then parties across the UK would have sat up and taken notice of younger voters as in many key seats the number of 16 and 17 year exceeds the sitting MP’s majority. “A Labour government would give those 1.5m people across the UK a voice. We would allow them to make the choice for themselves.” Plaid Cymru AM, Simon Thomas, supported the idea, but also promised that Plaid would go further, saying: “Plaid Cymru want to go further than many other parties we want to give young people aged 16 and 17 the right to vote, and we want to introduce the Single Transferable Vote system to make votes fairer. “Plaid Cymru was advocating votes at 16 when both Labour’s Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were Prime Ministers.

It’s likely that Labour’s broken promises not to introduce tuition fees or top-up fees were amongst the reasons as to why the former Labour government didn’t lower the voting age when it had a 13 year opportunity to do so. “Plaid Cymru would love to see a greater level of political engagement amongst young voters as they are the future of our nation.” Off ering broad support to the idea was Conservative MP, Simon Hart, though he also stated he believed other factors were also important for political engagement, saying: “I have no issue with lowering the voting age, but Labour are mistaken if they think that is the only thing that puts younger people off politics. Too often we hear people say that voting ‘doesn’t make any diff erence’ and that we are ‘all as bad as each other’.

The task that faces all Parties is not to use this issue as some way of scoring cheap points because that is the problem, not the solution. We will win respect and support not through gimmickry, but through sensible policies that actively encourage younger voters to take part. Creating 2 million new apprenticeships since 2010, to add to the 2 million new jobs is just a start.” The British Electorate has been able to vote at the age of 18 since 1969, prior to that it was 21. Women have had the vote since 1918, but they had to be 30 or over; in 1928 that was changed to the same as the voting age for men, 21.

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Business

New facilities at Haverfordwest Target Shooting Club agreed

Published

1 day ago

May 23, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL by a Pembrokeshire shooting club for more disability-friendly facilities has been given the go-ahead by county planners.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Haverfordwest Target Shooting Club, through agent Andrew Sutton Architecture, sought permission for an extension to existing target shooting club building at The Firing Range, Withybush Road, Haverfordwest to improve accessibility and internal facilities, together with associated landscaping works.

A supporting statement said: “The club’s own published history states it was founded in 1968, moved from the Drill Hall to the old wartime airfield butts at Withybush by the early 1970s, and had developed facilities over time, including the clubhouse by 1999. The established leisure/community use has existed on the site for a number of years and the proposal does not seek to intensify the core activity beyond that already authorised/established.”

It added: “The primary objective of the scheme is to improve inclusive access to the club’s facilities for disabled users and those with reduced mobility. The internal arrangement will provide adequate entrance and lobby space, clear accessible routes and appropriately designed sanitary accommodation, including an accessible wetroom/shower and separate WC.”

It also said accessible parking and surfacing designed to provide a firm, even, slip-resistant route from parking to the principal entrance.

It added: “The Equality Act 2010 places duties on service providers to make reasonable adjustments so that people with additional access needs are not placed at a substantial disadvantage.

“The proposal is therefore a positive enhancement to a community/leisure facility and supports wider policy objectives for inclusive environments.”

It went on to say: “The club operates within a highly controlled environment, and the proposed works will maintain and enhance safety and security measures.”

The application was conditionally approved by planners.

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Watchdog criticises health board over £10m GP contract checks

Published

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Tom Sinclair

A HEALTH board has been criticised by Audit Wales after GP contracts worth more than £10m were awarded without sufficient due diligence checks.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board allowed a GP partnership associated with eHarley Street Primary Care Solutions to take on eight GP contracts in south-east Wales, with a combined annual value of around £10.1m.

Audit Wales said the board should have carried out greater scrutiny before approving the arrangements, including checks on financial resilience, workforce plans, business risks and the partnership’s ability to manage several practices at once.

However, the watchdog found no evidence of fraud and noted the board was dealing with significant pressure in general practice, including vacant contracts and limited interest from other bidders.

The report said weaknesses in governance and scrutiny contributed to later disruption and uncertainty for patients and staff when problems emerged.

Concerns included financial and workforce pressures, unpaid invoices, and issues relating to tax and pension payments. Some contracts were later handed back, requiring the health board to step in to protect services.

Natasha Asghar MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Minister for Health and Social Care, said the findings were “deeply concerning”.

She said: “Patients and staff were left facing disruption and uncertainty because proper scrutiny was not carried out before these contracts were awarded.

“The Welsh Conservatives believe lessons must be learned to ensure robust checks are in place, protect frontline services and restore confidence in primary care across Wales.”

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board accepted the recommendations and said it had already strengthened its processes.

Audit Wales said the case highlighted the need for stronger checks before GP contracts are transferred, particularly when a single partnership is taking on multiple practices in a short period.

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Welsh Conservatives demand clarity over EHRC guidance in schools

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2 days ago

May 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have called on the Welsh Government to clarify whether new Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance will be implemented in schools across Wales.

Shadow education minister Sam Rowlands MS has written to Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language Anna Brychan MS following the UK Supreme Court ruling on the Equality Act.

Mr Rowlands said schools, teachers, governors and parents needed clear answers on how the guidance would apply in practice, including on single-sex spaces, safeguarding, changing facilities and sports participation.

He said: “Parents, teachers and pupils deserve clarity from the Welsh Government.

“Schools cannot be left in limbo while ministers avoid making a decision on such an important safeguarding and legal issue.

“The Equality Act applies in Wales, and schools now need clear guidance on what this means in practice.”

In his letter, Mr Rowlands asks whether updated guidance will be issued to schools in Wales, whether schools will be expected to amend existing policies, and what advice will be given to headteachers on safeguarding and compliance with the Equality Act.

He also asks whether the Welsh Government intends to diverge from the approach set out by the EHRC.

The letter says schools and parents require “clear and consistent guidance” to ensure the rights, dignity and safety of all pupils are respected.