Reform UK may find it harder to win the next election after Sir Keir Starmer’s move to give 16-year-olds the vote. Analysis suggests the decision will favour the Labour Party, giving them 206,000 new votes in England and Wales.

Reform and Conservative figures have accused Starmer of trying to “rig” future elections following the move. It would see Labour win nine seats that Reform would have won, including Worcester, Rochdale, Mid Cheshire and Bournemouth East, making it tougher for Nigel Farage to become Prime Minister – the research suggests.

As reported by the Telegraph, 18 to 24-year-olds gave Labour 41% of the vote at last year’s general election. However, Reform and the Tories got just 13% combined from under-25s.

It’s estimated that the move to allow 16-year-olds the vote will mean there will be around 1.35 million new voters. Labour will benefit from over 200,000 new voters while Reform would secure around 40,000.

It is estimated that Labour could have gained nine seats across England and Wales at last year’s election if 16-year-olds could vote. These include Rochdale, Reading West and Mid Berkshire, Worcester, Derby North, Gateshead Central and Whickham, Mid Cheshire, Bournemouth East, Southampton Itchen and Blaydon and Consett.

A recent YouGov MRP poll showed that Reform UK are likely to win the election. Nigel Farage’s party are on track to win 271 seats, 55 short of an overall majority.

The data shows that Labour has lost support of the youngest 18 to 24 voters, falling to 28%. However, Reform would lose 12 seats, with most going to Labour, if 16 to 17-year-olds were given the vote.

Young voters are drawn to the left, with one in three aged under-25 saying they would vote for Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s new hard-Left political party. Analysis from More in Common also highlights that seats with the highest number of 16 to 17-year-olds saw independents and Workers Party perform their best.