Derby North MP Chris Williamson backs move to give the vote to 16-year-olds
DERBY North MP Chris Williamson has backed a motion in the House of Commons calling for the voting age to be lowered.
Mr Williamson, a Labour MP, says the "time is right" for the minimum age to shift from 18 to 16 – although local Tories disagree.
He said: "It's important that we give young people the opportunity to vote.
"Some of the recent changes made by government, including the removal of the education maintenance allowance and the rising tuition fees, are issues which affect young people. There are a lot of issues that young people are interested in but, because of their age, cannot speak out about it."
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Mr Williamson voted in favour of the proposal put forward by Bristol West Lib Dem MP Stephen Williams.
The Derby MP said at 16 young people can give full consent to medical treatment, leave school and enter work or training, pay income tax and National Insurance, obtain tax credits and welfare benefits in their own right, consent to sexual relationships, get married or enter a civil partnership, change their name by deed poll, become a director of a company and join the armed forces.
He said: "I see no reason not to add the vote to that list."
But Heather Wheeler, MP for South Derbyshire, said she was not in favour.
She said: "I have had many meetings with different age groups from our local schools and I have been struck by how varied their views are on it.
"There does not seem to be a local consensus to reduce the age. It's my belief that all sorts of responsibilities come with the age of 18."
Pauline Latham, MP for Mid-Derbyshire, said although she did not think the voting age should be reduced she felt there should be "one qualifying age" when everything should happen.
She said: "There are some anomalies; voting at 18, getting married at 16 and learning to drive at the age of 17.
"There should be a consensual coming age of age when all of these doors open."
The backbench motion was passed by 119 votes to 46 and Mr Williams now wants his move put into law.
The Government, however, insists it has no plans to make the change.
9 Comments
by NINECAR
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 6:22PM
“It doesnt matter how old you are or what Political Party you support, MP's are all in it for themselves. It doesnt matter what Ideas Governments want, the opposistion will aways vote against it(both Tory and Labour). So a 16 year old as as good a chance of wasting their time voting as well as the over 18.
And it appears that FASTY would prefer youngsters to be unemployed scroungers than join the forces to learn a trade”
by Normal_Bloke
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 3:47PM
“Quite frankly the voting age should be raised to 25.
Those with no experience of life are not in a position to make rational choices about who should run the country.”
by Fasty
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 3:29PM
“"There will be young people who have been sent to theirs (sic) deaths in numerous conflicts, by governments which they could not choose."
Unless I've missed something, the government didn't force them into the services.”
by Rob09
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 2:54PM
“As usual, people have missed the point here.
The principle of 'no taxation without representation' was the one which lead to the independence of the United States. It's also valid here. 16 and 17 year olds are taxed by a government which they had no choice in electing. The same principle applies to those fighting in our forces overseas. There will be young people who have been sent to theirs deaths in numerous conflicts, by governments which they could not choose. No deployment without representation perhaps?
In addition, you have to remember it's not just 16 and 17 year olds that lose out. Because general elections are so infrequent, a person may be well past 18 before they have the opportunity to vote. I, myself was only a few weeks short of my 22nd birthday before I had the chance to vote in a general election. That's hardly very democratic.”
by Wafty
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 10:36AM
“hardly surprising that Williamson is in favour of this - naive and impressionable young minds are the Labour party's best hope at election time.....”
by Tamas
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 10:16AM
“Do something useful Williamson.”
by Derby_Stu
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 10:11AM
“So kids that have just come out of school, not had to experience adult lives yet should be given the chance to vote? Agreed this is a waste and there are more important issues that need time and attention rather than this.”
by CoachOgre
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 9:44AM
“Cloud and cuckoo land comes to mind. Having been involved in many things socially I have come to realise that people are not interested in voting at any age purely because politicians are lying, cheating, manipulating people only interested in serving themselves. The majority of teenagers cannot decide what they want to do in life (career choice, what subjects to take) so having to decode political speak from truth will be no better. Life is full of anomalies you can commit murder at 16 but are tried as a juvenile and go to a young offenders centre, you can have alcohol with a meal but not on its own, should we change these laws as well? There are far more important things out there than this, let them gain some experience in being stuffed by government, work and life first before asking them to vote, brainwashing will come next with enforced politics in school.”
by Fasty
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 8:45AM
“Good use of MPs time, it's not like we've got anything else to worry about at the moment is it?”