'Young people like me will have their voices heard thanks to votes at 16'

Last year young campaigner and activist Inaaya Ijaz called for Votes at 16 at Labour Conference – as part of the Daily Mirror's 'If Year 9 were in No 10' project.

Yesterday, Inaaya found out the Labour government had listened to her. In a historic move, 16 and 17-year-olds will be given the right to vote at the next general election, ministers confirmed yesterday.

Inaaya may only be 15 but she has already been busy shaping the future and fighting to better her community. The young teen from Ilford, London, is deputy member of Youth Parliament for Redbridge Council, chief voice officer for Kids Against Plastic and a radio presenter at 24 Hours Radio.

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Last year Inaaya took part in the Mirror’s 'If Year 9 were in No 10' special project, where we spoke to nine teenagers about their views of the country and what they would change about it if they were in charge in the lead up to the election. Inaaya’s request was for young people 16 and over to vote in general elections because she wanted the youth to be part of the future change.

She told us: "Personally I think this is incredible news, it now means myself and other young changemakers across the UK will now have a say in the next election. Now it’s not only a few new people added to the election but over one million new votes will now be counted in the next election.

"It means myself and other young people will have their voices heard. This is vital we will become more informed of decisions to make when we become the next generation of changemakers.

"Once again I believe this new change is necessary and I'm so happy that the Labour Party has been able to listen to our views as young people and go the next step and by allowing us to vote in the next general election too."