Compulsory Voting, Starmer Plot & Gen Z’s VE Day Blind Spot
06 May 2026

Compulsory Voting, Starmer Plot & Gen Z’s VE Day Blind Spot

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins

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Should voting be compulsory in Britain, and would it fix a broken political system? Giles Dilnot makes the case against forcing people to the ballot box, as turnout, trust and engagement in UK politics come under scrutiny.


Meanwhile, speculation grows over a potential leadership challenge to Keir Starmer, with claims of a “Trojan Horse” plan to bring Andy Burnham back to Westminster. John Power reacts and argues that Starmer’s replacement could be even worse.


Plus, ahead of VE Day, historian James Holland discusses new figures showing two-thirds of Gen Z don’t know what VE Day marks, raising questions about education, national identity and historical awareness.


From compulsory voting and political reform to Labour infighting and historical literacy, we ask: is Britain losing both civic engagement and its sense of history?

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