UK Lowers Voting Age to 16 – Just 18 years Behind the Isle of Man

The UK government has this morning announced that around 1.5 million 16 and 17-year-olds will be able to vote at the next general election under new plans to lower the voting age.

Welcome to 2006, lads.

It’s generally assumed the UK is ahead of us on most things – but we’re not so sure.

Yep, the Isle of Man has let 16-year-olds vote since Tony Blair was still running the show at No.10, and when the world first endured James Blunt’s ‘You’re Beautiful’ (some say tortured) echoing from every radio.

Naturally, this has got us wondering, what else is the UK belatedly copying from the Isle of Man?

Take assisted dying.

Westminster’s still nervously clearing its throat, while over here, we’ve already voted it through in principle and are drafting legislation.

It’s serious stuff and extremely controversial, sure, but proof we don’t shy away from the big conversations.

And medicinal cannabis?

Let’s just say if you’ve walked through Onchan lately and thought you were at a Snoop Dogg concert, you’re not alone. We’ve been quietly (well, aromatically) ahead of the curve on that one too.

There are even whispers the UK is eyeing up some of our other standout ideas.

Word in Westminster is they’re mulling over horse trams as a way to ease London congestion.

Forget Crossrail, hoof it from Euston to the Eye in style (or half way to the Eye if it’s in fact copying us).

There’s also quiet outrage in royal circles that King Charles is furious he doesn’t get his own hill and cake day. There could be a Tynwald Day across the water soon.

Even the Manx cat might be the next thing they pinch.

We’ve heard DEFRA (worse version of DEFA) is exploring a pilot programme for tail-free tabbies in Surrey. If they start popping up in Kent, we’ll know who to blame.

So next time someone on the other side says we’re ‘a bit behind the times’, do remind them we’ve been letting teenagers vote since they were toddlers.