Voting age for EU referendum should be lowered to 16, says SNP | Politics | The Guardian
Will that smug smile soon be wiped off Angus Robertson’s face?
This is interesting – the SNP trying to throw its meagre weight around in Westminster.
Will Cameron accede to either demand? Doubtful. He’s a Conservative, so he likes things to be simple and won’t want any complications around whether different countries of the UK can stay in the EU if others pull out.
As for lowering the voting age… Young people are more likely to vote against the Tories, so again, it seems the SNP are on a hiding to nothing.
David Cameron must follow the example of last year’s Scottish independence referendum and allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote on whether to remain part of the EU, the Westminster leader of the SNP has said.
Writing in the Guardian,, Angus Robertson says the newly expanded cohort of SNP MPs will seek to amend the EU referendum bill, which is expected to be put forward in the Queen’s speech this Thursday, to ensure that young adults can take part.
“Best practice from the independence referendum must be followed – and that includes extending the vote in an EU referendum to 16- and 17-year-olds across the UK. Scotland’s 56 SNP MPs will certainly seek to amend the legislation to ensure that young people are able to take part in the vote.”
Describing the Conservative mandate north of the border as dubious after the party held only one seat in the general election this month, Robertson adds that the SNP will also seek to amend the legislation to ensure that no constituent part of the UK can be taken out of the EU against its will.
Although Cameron summarily rejected this demand when it was first put forward by the SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon, late last year, Robertson says the SNP will press ahead with its “double lock” proposal.
Source: Voting age for EU referendum should be lowered to 16, says SNP | Politics | The Guardian
Obviously Cameron won’t go for either of these amendments. If he went for the constituent countries he would be pilloried by the English masses and, as the article says, younger people don’t vote Tory as much. That would be even more understandable with Cameron’s plans for them. Personally, I am a great believer in lowering the voting age. The youngsters voting for the first time in our referendum last year all showed considerably more maturity than several MPs I can think of. If you can be sent off to die for the UK then you should have your say.
The Scottish referendum showed that youngsters are quite smart and will be able to work out for themselves that this is not a vote for any party.
Many Tories, voters and MPs are firmly in the Pro-EU camp. I would not be surprised to see them support 16/17 year-olds getting a vote, throwing the SNP a bone at the same time. The “double lock” is just a pointy stick to poke Cameron with, Sturgeon knows she wont get it, but she’ll turn it round and use it as a club to beat him with if it all goes pear shaped.
What makes you think it will?
I reckon it far more likely that the SNP will end up the worse for it.
Retired people should not have a vote in a EU referendum, the future does not really effect them, 16 year olds have their whole future ahead of them, it would be wrong to exclude them
I think retired people would be affected just as much as anybody else!
Are you only saying that because you think they’ll die soon?
Many people live well into their 80s now (barring government intervention) meaning they would have more than a decade of life under whatever changes came about.
You sound like you’re still in short trousers Andy. I have been retired for 5 years and many people retire younger than I was able to. As Mike said, many people live into their 80s or longer. What gives you the right to curtail my voting rights on something that is as relevant to me as anyone else?