Electoral Administration Bill

Oh, Roy Jenkins, my former colleague here, a man of great enlightenment. Perhaps there are people in the present Government who are similarly enlightened and can bring forward this proposal before too long. The arguments that we used as we campaigned for votes at 18 back in the 1960s are exactly the same arguments as are being used now. Of course, it is a matter of judgment. No principle is involved as to what age is appropriate; it is a matter of pragmatic judgment. The principle is: how mature are people; how educated are people? We then make a judgment on that basis. I believe that, nowadays, people in their teens are on average substantially more educated and more mature than we were when we campaigned for votes at 18; and than whenever the franchise was first set at 21 for men. So my noble friend is absolutely right to table the amendment and I, too, hope that we will send it to the Commons.