Press Story

Reacting to the announcement of key reforms to be included in a forthcoming elections bill, Harry Quilter-Pinner, IPPR executive director, said:

“Barely half of people voted in last year’s general election. Our democracy is in crisis, and we risk reaching a tipping point where politics loses its legitimacy. The government has clearly heard these alarm bells. The policies announced today represent the biggest reform to our electoral system since 1969, more than 50 years.

“Lowering the voting age to 16 and introducing first steps towards automatic voter registration could eventually bring up to 9.5 million new people into the democratic process. Meanwhile, new controls on political donations will help shield our elections from foreign interference.

“At a time when public trust in politics is at a low ebb, this expansion of our democracy is a vital step toward rebuilding confidence, modernising our institutions, and pushing back against the rise of populism.”

IPPR has heavily influenced the government’s Elections Bills. It’s recommendations that feature in the Bill include:

Reducing the voting age to 16
Automatic voter registration
Restrictions to political donations

ENDS

Harry Quilter-Pinner, IPPR executive director, is available for interview

CONTACT

Liam Evans, senior digital and media officer: 07419 365334 l.evans@ippr.org

NOTES TO EDITORS

IPPR’s report calling for an overhaul of UK’s election laws is at https://www.ippr.org/articles/modernising-elections
IPPR is the UK’s most influential think tank, with alumni in Downing Street, the cabinet and parliament. We are the ideas factory behind many of the current government’s flagship policies, including changes to fiscal rules, the creation of a National Wealth Fund, GB Energy, devolution, and reforms to the NHS. IPPR is an independent charity which has seconded staff to government departments including DHSC and DESNZ to support ministers on crucial policies such as the 10-year health plan and the industrial strategy: www.ippr.org