Party Leader Emphasises Youth-Focused Policies and Endorses Lower Voting Age to 16

Sir Ed Davey has asserted that the Liberal Democrats resonate more with young voters than any other political party, highlighting policies on housing, international issues, and a pro-European stance. Speaking during a campaign stop in Chichester, West Sussex, Davey welcomed Labour’s recent pledge to lower the voting age to 16 but argued that broader political reform is necessary to address the country’s “broken” system.

Davey addressed the party’s past controversy over university tuition fees, noting that although the 2010 coalition government’s policies were a source of disappointment for some, he remains proud of the Lib Dems’ contributions to mental health, same-sex marriage, and renewable energy during that time.

Emphasising key priorities for young voters, Davey pointed to the Lib Dems’ advocacy for a ceasefire in Gaza, efforts to improve the rental housing market, commitment to building more council houses, and focus on community policing to tackle issues like knife crime. He argued that these measures demonstrate the party’s alignment with youth interests.

Speaking in Hampshire later in the day, Davey backed Sir Keir Starmer’s call to reduce the voting age to 16, reaffirming it as a long-standing Lib Dem goal. However, he stressed the need for a comprehensive overhaul of Britain’s political system, including electoral and decentralisation reforms, to deliver meaningful changes across key areas such as healthcare, the economy, and the environment.