Pat McFadden has defended Labour’s plan to hand 16-years-olds the right to vote in all elections ahead of the King’s Speech today. 

The manifesto commitment is expected to be included when King Charles sets out Sir Keir Starmer’s legislative plans at the State Opening of Parliament this morning. 

Mr McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, was asked why the Labour Government was prioritising votes at 16 as a key issue at a time when the UK has many other problems which need to be fixed. 

He told Times Radio: “You always make choices. Again, wait to see what is in the King’s Speech.” 

Asked why it was more important than anything else, Mr McFadden said: “I am not saying it is more important than anything else because your manifesto is not just about one thing but that was one thing that was in our manifesto, that is a policy of the Labour Party.

“Why is it important? We believe it is right to extend the franchise in that way, that already happens in Scotland for Scottish elections.”

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