Labour accused of hypocrisy after giving 16-year-olds the vote – while banning them from becoming local party bosses

LABOUR has been accused of “staggering hypocrisy” by banning 16-year-olds from being local party bosses – despite letting them vote in general elections.

Sir Keir Starmer’s party is introducing a new rule raising the minimum age for constituency association chairs, treasurers and secretaries to 18 years old.

It was signed off by the party’s ruling national executive on Wednesday with several Cabinet Ministers in attendance.

It came just days after the PM announced controversial plans to let 1.5million 16 and 17-year-olds participate in general elections.

He claimed they were responsible enough to pay tax and join the army so should be able to cast ballots.

A Labour Party insider said: “We just look totally ridiculous now because it has made the entire logic behind the policy incoherent.

“We can’t say 16-year-olds are mature enough to decide who is the next prime minister, but in the same breath that they can’t take the minutes at a local party meeting. It’s just staggering hypocrisy.”

Sir Keir’s plan to lower the voting age has widely been seen as a cynical ploy to boost his chances of re-election.

Polling shows they would mop up about a third of all 16 and 17-year-olds if an election were held today.

However social media-savvy Reform is also polling well in that age bracket as are left-wing parties like the Greens.

A Labour spokesman said: “Electoral law doesn’t currently protect under-18s from legal liability. This change to the Party’s rules will protect young people.

“That has nothing to do with votes at 16 and is a total false equivalence. It’s right that those who pay tax and fight for our country can have a say in its future.”