Electoral Administration Bill

I respond to my noble friend by explaining my point. I was not saying that we should rely on public opinion. My point was that there are occasions on which we depart from public opinion. We should not be driven by it. However, if we are to depart from it, we must have a very clear reason for doing so to explain why that is the case. My point was that I have heard no compelling reason to move away from the current position. Yes, a balance must be drawn but, on my noble friend’s last point, I return to my earlier point: there is a difference between becoming a company director, where an individual is chosen by the company for the particular skills that that person has that sets them apart from others; and giving everyone in that age group a right that they can exercise. There is a clear distinction between the two. If we are to move away from public opinion, there must be a compelling case and I have not heard it.