Environment Secretary Steve Reed has become the latest Labour minister to stumble over a straightforward question about British law during a television appearance.
When presenter Camilla Tominey questioned him on GB News about the minimum age for marriage in the UK, Reed responded uncertainly before hazarding an incorrect guess.
"I don't know, tell me. 16?" Reed replied when asked about the legal marriage age.
His response prompted Camilla to reveal that Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner had previously made the identical error.
GB NEWS
|Steve Reed admitted he did not know the legal marriage age in Britain
"You don't know. This is a trap your colleague and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner fell into. She justified votes at 16 by saying that's the age you can get married in this country," She stated.
The GB News star then challenged both ministers' knowledge of fundamental British legislation. "Why doesn't the Deputy Prime Minister or indeed the Environment Secretary know the basic laws of the UK?" she asked.
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The exchange occurred whilst Reed was defending the government's recently announced plans to reduce the voting age to 16 across the UK.
Reed acknowledged his error but quickly pivoted to defending the government's electoral reform agenda. "Fair enough. Having votes at 16 was something we put in our manifesto and we won a majority in the House of Commons now we are getting on and implementing our manifesto," he told Tominey.
GB NEWS
|Steve Reed joined Camilla Tominey on GB News
The Environment Secretary highlighted existing precedents for younger voters participating in democratic processes. "16 and 17-year-olds can already vote in certain elections in Wales and Scotland, I think it's reasonable to give young people a say in national elections here in the UK as well," Reed stated.
His justification echoed arguments made by other Labour figures, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has previously insisted the matter concerns fairness.
The PM has argued that those who can work, pay taxes and serve in the armed forces should have voting rights.
The Government's position emphasises that sixteen-year-olds already contribute to society through employment, taxation and military service, making their exclusion from national elections inconsistent with their other civic responsibilities.
PA | Angela Rayner suffered a similar mishap
The Government revealed its electoral reform plans two days ago, confirming that approximately 1.5 million teenagers will gain voting rights before the next general election, scheduled by summer 2029 at the latest. This represents the most significant expansion of the electorate since 1969, when the voting age dropped from 21 to 18.
Democracy Minister Rushanara Ali described the changes as taking "a generational step forward in restoring public trust and boosting engagement in UK democracy". Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner emphasised that the reforms would "break down barriers to participation" and help rebuild faith in democratic institutions.
The electoral changes extend beyond voting age reduction. The government plans to introduce UK-issued bank cards as acceptable voter identification and develop an automated voter registration system. Additional measures will tighten regulations on political donations, closing loopholes that permit foreign donors to influence British politics through shell companies.
Harry Quilter-Pinner from the IPPR think tank called these "the biggest reform to our electoral system since 1969", noting that the changes could potentially bring 9.5 million new participants into the democratic process.