Should over 70s be banned from voting on the country’s future?
A shock poll last night showed half of young adults reckon the over-70s should be barred from voting on the country’s future.
The Britain-wide survey revealed 47 per cent of the 16-34 age bracket think pensioners shouldn’t get a say on issues like Brexit and Scottish independence – as it’s the younger generation that has to live longest with the consequences.
The Panelbase poll of 2,013 people in Scotland, England and Wales was commissioned pro-Scottish Independence website Wings Over Scotland, after studies showed older people swung the Brexit vote in favour of Leave – and pensioners sealed the 2014 Scottish referendum No victory.
It found 32 per cent overall “broadly agreed” and 68 per cent “broadly disagreed” that over-70s should be stripped of a vote on “matters of potential major permanent change such as Brexit”.
But in the 16-34 age group, the ban/don’t ban split narrowed to 47/53.
In the 35-54 bracket, it was 34/66, while over-55s disagreed most strongly with a ban – with just 18 per cent agreeing, and 82 per cent disagreeing.
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We don't tolerate swearing, and reserve the right to remove any posts which we feel may offend others... let's keep it friendly!
I'm afraid a lot of the younger generation did not like leaving the EU because now they will need a visa to travel to EU counties, this is what happened in the good old days before we joined the EU so what is the problem?
No sod listens to what we want!
The political parties blew that out of the window
a long, long time ago.
so to these pathetic wastes of space ( snowfIakes, bullies and so called political correctionists
I say say to and rot in hell to hell and stop trying to bully those senior and more intelligent and life experienced with pathetic younger people, who may have brains, but simply want to use them to bully and ridicule the senior citizens
if they believe that I am not respecting them, they are completely right, because you have to give respect to get it back
long live the rights of senior citizens and keep fighting aging those who want to ban our rights, such as the Brexit and other social rights votes
We have teenagers now who follow so called (influencers????)
on the internet .Usually who are good at putting make up on ,having botox and talking dribble.
oh yes we really need these to decide the future.
I believe younger voters are often unduly influenced by teachers with strong views, often left wing, which they articulate well. It is also a good thing that communications from political parties are under scrutiny. In the recent past this has been close to "grooming"
I have to admit I haven't looked into this but:
Do Scotland actually meet the criteria to be an EU member if they became a standalone country?
We traded with the rest of the world ... but who am I preaching to certainly not those who will read it..
It’s amazing how our grandchildren and great grandchildren would sell us down the river... They should be studying the history of the last 100 years, perhaps then they may see it from our point of view!
Note that this suggest only votes which hugely affect the future of the Uk are in question.(plainly the referendum) Votes for who runs teh country arent in contention.
I would prefer a voter examination because i do not believe that most of the population actually understand what the issues are and what the implications of choice are likely to be.
Poeple would rather vote for winner of Xfactor Strictly or Talent and discuss soaps football or other sport with far more knowledge and understanding
"Only 56% of 19-to-24 year olds were on the electoral register compared with 94% of those aged over 65"
That's an actual real fact.
You may justifiably say It's their own fault for not registering but the result is that the over 65's decided their future.
There is a reported surge in young voters since december election was announced.
I also know that many younglings didnt know that had to register thought it was auto like using NHS and also thought it would be something that would take a few minutes on the internet.
Looking back I think I was more politically aware at that age, and since, than ever before.
What are your thresholds in this examination? Who would conduct it?
Do you not yet understand, it is for the individual citizen to remain fully informed as to what is either proposed or going on? It is for the individual to make personal choices, to decide the nation's direction for the next five years. British democracy embraces the entirety of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a collective result. That result stands!
If you want to exclude people from our democracy, I'll begin with YOU! Denominate your qualification for holding your opinions, tell us all why we should even read your post. I can tell you. there's several on SS of a like mind who would have you disqualified from voting in an instant - that is if you want such barriers.
It's goose and gander time. What's good for you is even better for us!
Yes it is the responsibility of the citizen to inform themselves.
In the matter of the referendum the electorate were lied to.
How many people do you know that are actually well informed about current issues or even political and economic history?
Here is a fact
Only 56% of 19-to-24 year olds were on the electoral register compared with 94% of those aged over 65
I know you were being heavy handedly jocular but look at how it seems to a youngster
Few seems to have noticed that a great many things have changed. The good old days werent really that good except in rose tinted memory.
Young view is that those voters will be far far less affected by leaving than young persons just starting out. They think that their opportunities are now much more limited.
They seem ok with the idea of listening to well argued experienced persons talkin about their own areas of knowledge.
It works both ways.
Which mistakes exactly?
The Socialists under Wilson caused much economic trouble with their neo-communist policies. That's why we needed a bailout.
Why did Britain join? For various reasons. Because De Gaulle left, the Commonwealth could not compete, Heath defeated Wilson, the free trade area integration model sunk. But above all, Britain joined because joining the European project was perceived to be a way to stop its relative economic decline. In 1950, UK’s per capita GDP was almost a third larger than the EU6 average; in 1973, it was about 10% below; it has been comparatively stable ever since. On this basis, joining the EU worked – it helped to halt Britain’s relative economic decline vis-à-vis the EU6.
When the UK joined in 1973, per capita GDP was 7% smaller than the EU6 average.
So which economic histories and sources and analyses are you quoting?
On most other matters they will be more than happy to listen and learn but not when older people arent going to be as much affected by something as they are.
If you had taken the time to read Speakers Corner posts from nearly four years ago, of which I was a poster, you would have seen yours is a lost cause. The hard core majority on here are Brexit supporters, as I am.
I'm somewhat sorry to tell you, spouting remain doctrine, which is not a truth at all, doesn't cut any mustard.
Then tell me how the IUK will be better off.
I dont give a blue blazed banana whether we leave or not. I am interested in the emotional, intellectual world views and mind sets of the "silver tops". They are my peer group and I find them fascinating.
Popcorn has done nothing to deserve such a response from you. All he's done is offer informed debate.
He also forced through Maastricht, against Parliament's will.
Facts, facts .. you do seem so short of them.
Just because they have reached an age that allow's them to vote, they think they know everything.........................and they don't!
They are gullible. self appointed narcissists.
Would they like to attend a newly qualified dentist to perform some difficult task on them, just because they have newly qualified from dental school?
No! They, like the rest of us, would find someone that has a lot more experience.
The world has enough problems without adding to them by letting some gun-ho youth take control of the nuclear button.
If this comment offends some of the youth..............tough, get over it..........................the same as we have to accept your 'ageist' opinions.
Is this just another anti age rant? Quite fashionable to do so these days.
They should all think about the fact that they too will get old.......there is no way to avoid it really. Isn't there a book written by the chap who wrote Day of the Triffords called One Fine Day when at 60? You had to report to a center and be killed off?....................so much science fiction has come about............ha ha
Looking at the poll though, when you consider the population of the UK, a teeny, tiny number of people took part.
Can we trust the future of our country to the 18 year olds when the academic elite at Oxford are agitating to stop clapping approval (and one assumes disapproval.... Slow handclap) because it causes anxiety in some and advocating 'jazz hands'instead thereby excluding anyone with hearing difficulties, and possibly a blind performer who couldn't see the approval of an audience?
However time will go on and I daresay we will all adjust to whatever happens. Just get it done.
The people they are trying to stop voting have common sense, life experience and have also worked most of their lives, unless quite a few of the younger generation nowadays.
A ludicrous and cynical suggestion on a par with enfranchising 16 and 17 year old children - because that's what they are, children.
and the hardships that our brave soldiers had to go through, the disrespect that some of the youngsters have for the elderly is disgusting, do they feel this way about their parents or Grandparents.
I have come across people while driving whom shouted at me that I should stop driving because of my age.
In the past 10 years I had a few accidents because people coming out of a parking place did not look around being too busy squawking on their mobiles and not paying attention to traffic.
I was hit on the left those times when someone drove onto the road, crossing a footpath, a pavement and the inside lane of a 2up and 2 down road, after a lot of to-do I was shouted at that I was too old to drive and I should have stopped when his highness came onto the road from the left.
Another time the same happened when someone drove onto the road from the left and not bothering to look around.
I was told that I was demented, and paranoid schizo and should be locked up.
Strangely though all these thoughts were voiced by quite younger persons who were driving on the road.
The same goes for youngsters on the pavement. They walk 4 abreast and wanted me to step into the road thus they could on and not need to give a spacewalk unhindered and not need to give me any space, calling me a pervert, a lecher and I should be told to stay at home.
Maybe the word "killing off" should have been used to make clear that people over 70 are not useful anymore and taking up space for nothing.
The youngster should think very hard about things like this because of the oldies they are on this world of ours.
The electorate will be over the age of 40, All those younger than 40 will be excluded from any democratic debate.
How dare they think anyone over 70 shouldn't vote!! we still pay our taxes rates and bills , and we have a right to have a say in how our country is being run. At least we take an interest in how it is run and get out an vote, do all of those who would deny us our rights .
Yes the youngsters think they know it all, and I probably felt the same way when I was 15, 20, 30, 40, 50 and still now at 70 I'm of an opinion that my views are better than anyone elses. So nothing changes.
What is needed from youngsters and oldies alike is more tolerance of each other and more understanding that yes there is and always will be the "generation gap" but that that gap can be reduced by helping each other to understand each other
Young people, especially those between 16-18 have had little experience of life or work so could make very bad decisions. It is they who should not have the vote. Perhaps under 21s as well.
Do these young people know the history of how difficult it was to get the vote in the first place, especially for women?
Re Brexit, do they know what the EU's plans are for the near future? Do they know the current state of the EU, particularly the Euro which all EU countries will have to sign up to under the 'closer union' plans.
No, I thought not.
We seem to get the blame for everything NHS because we are living too long, and now want to ban us from voting.!!!
The majority of us left school at 15 and worked nearly all our lives contributing taxes etc I think we have earned the right to vote.
The age group referred to do not instil me with confidence about our future, but, thankfully I will have popped my Clogs by the time it comes for them to rule and wallow in the gravy train.
With age comes experience and the youngsters do not have the experience of life to make judgments on their elders.
Plus the fact they will only know the negatives available to the masses, whereas the older generation knew full employment, and access to education, a doctor, council housing etc.
Life for many was a struggle financially, but there was a community spirit.
Nowadays it is every man for himself, with a certain class of lowlifes preying on the elderly.
Most of us only receive the pensions we PAID for and still pay tax. Perhaps the rallying cry should be "no taxation without representation", my enfeebled mind seems to think that that has already been done.
Make us retake a driving test, do away with seats for the elderly on public transport, even "means test" travel passes and fuel allowances. All these are up for sensible discussion but to take away our right to vote, NEVER. I could make a better case for taking the vote from anyone under 21 convicted of an offence, even motoring. You cannot take that seriously but that is true of the proposition for seniors.
For those not of advanced years, "means test" used to have shocking and shameful connotations, as did National Assistance.
What next from the younger generation a vote to kill the over 70's, set a maximum life age for everybody to reach ?
I guess you will get some young politician thinking this is a good idea that will save money in pensions and on the NHS as that is where this could lead to in time !!!
In some petitions being sent to government, 65 year olds shouldn't be voting either.
It would be interesting to see how the country would cope if all the "wrinklies" withdrew their taxes, businesses, charities, teachers, doctors etc. What would the repercussions be?
Our spoiled young snowflakes have been got at by speakers at schools and universities. The Media has been whipping up the ageism project for some years now.
Must read or see:
Soylent Green, a movie made from the book "Make Room, Make Room is a brilliant glimpse into the future (2022) when old people are euthanased and turned into food on a dying planet.
Maybe with a nice Chianti?
I have probably another 25-30 years left in me, maybe more, so I expect to have some say in how this country is run.
Many youngsters have no idea what goes on in the world and judging by the interviews in the street carried out by the media, particularly the BBC, neither do their parents. Their world is encapsulated in their mobile phone. Their newscasts are on Twitter and Facebook and their personal life, the same.
That's no basis on which to base judgement on major political issues.
As has already been said, with age comes wisdom.
But as for Brexit I think 16 year olsd should be allowed to vote on this as it is going to affect their future more then the over 70s - I think it would be very wrong and a backward move to start to take away votes from people who already have their vote
Many thanks for the party political broadcast - which ever party that was.
May your politics of envy, hatred and misguidedness founder in the mire.
The young people are the ones 'pitting' one generation against another.
We over 70s should have a right of reply.
It is nothing to do with the Tories - more likely Momentum.
Do they not aspire to have wisdom from experience over time , and observation of human behaviour , especially political ?
Didn’t we all think we “ knew it all” at 18, then 25, then 30, and at some point have a dawning that “ we knew nothing” ?
We elders are also scared for the future of the young and the choices they may make thinking only the young matter!
The young may be lucky, and be old one day. Not everyone is!
Looking back, status quo, Empire supporting , Union flag waving is NOT a valid situation. I am approaching 70 but would always vote with consideration to my 40 year old kids and their families and what is best for them.
There is nothing wrong in being British and supporting the Queen.
By the way, have you seen all those EU flags being waved about in Parliament Square? So glad Boris had the Union Jacks put back.
Are you suggesting elderly people don't watch the news? Many people have been watching with disgust at the antics of rebels in Parliament and refusal of the opposition to hold an election. There is constant talk of it at my local club.
Have you considered what the situation of Britain will be like when the EU has completed its 'closer union"? The EU plans to take over control of our armed forces and have one overall foreign policy and if we are still in the EU we will have no say in what happens.
Remain were denying the EU army idea and said Leave were making it up but the EU announced it so no more mention of it from Remain.
They want their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren to live a positive, healthy, beneficial life so they have a right to vote on the future of our country.
Whilst it is true that a higher proportion of the Leave votes during the referendum were cast by the older generation, I suspect that's because more of them made the effort to vote. I actively campaigned for the Leave vote in 2016 and met many young people who wanted us to wave bye bye to the EU and many older people who wanted us to remain tied to the EU.
Once we start to disenfranchise any part of our community we are on a slippery slope to the demise of democracy. As a counter argument, sadly not all young people will survive until they are 70. Many will die prematurely due to accidents or illnesses so are we going to start preventing people who are living with disabilities or chronic illnesses from casting their votes because they won't live long enough?
For the benefit of those who think it’s a good idea, just one thought. Who will you blame when it all goes wrong.