Electoral Administration Bill

It is really straining the level of credulity to think that the percentage of voting will improve in this country if we cast it down to 16 year-olds. If we cannot attract 18 to 24 year-olds to vote, surely we will not attract 16 year-olds. What is wrong with the system at the moment is that people are not voting throughout. To say that if we give votes to 16 year-olds, that gives them an opportunity to get into the habit of voting and, hey presto, it will all get better, is beyond comprehension. I have done my own straw poll of 16 year-olds. It is not very scientific, but they are not interested, basically. They have other things on their minds and they do not want to be burdened with what they see as yet another responsibility too far. Why should they? A whole list of things has been given that 16 year-olds can do. They can do those things or not, but the expectation is, if we lower the age to 16, or whatever age, that people will exercise that power and responsibility. It should be recognised that that is what it is: it is a responsibility to cast your vote to elect a government of your country and to understand the implications of what you are doing. I know many very articulate 16 year-olds. I agree that some of that age group are articulate because they have been led out of being afraid to discuss matters with adults, which was one of the problems of previous generations. But why would they now want generally to be able to vote? That would be placing far too much responsibility on what are, to all intents and purposes, still young people who have other things to do than politics. They need to be out and about; we need to listen to their perceptions; and they need to have the opportunity to drive us all mad. Those may not sound good reasons for me being against lowering the age to 16, but I do not think that that would have the slightest effect on increasing the vote either now or in future. The only thing that will generate interest is when politics are sparky and pointed and affect people, and people feel strongly that they have an effect on their lives, and, possibly, that politicians look as if they are upright and straightforward—all the things that we know that they are and should be. I accept that the polls suggest that 16 year-olds do not want to vote and have no intention of voting if they were given the vote. That is a step far too far and I shall certainly not support the amendment.