UK Parliament / Open data

European Union Referendum Bill

My hon. Friend makes a valid point, but I will be chided if I go down that route because it is not within the remit of the amendments under consideration.

Such a matter would have to be discussed if we were to reconsider the franchise. I do not think that we should pick and choose our franchise arrangements; I know that Scotland did for the referendum. At the moment, we have a franchise of 18 plus. Those voters elected this Government and asked this Government to deliver a referendum and it is those voters who should vote in the referendum; it is as simple as that.

If we are going to start treading in these waters of saying that 16-year-olds should vote, why should we stop there? As has been said in this House, why not 15-year-olds? Why not 14-year olds? How have we picked this arbitrary age? Scotland went down the 16-year-old route. Does that make it the right one?

About this proceeding contribution

Reference

597 cc520-1 

Session

2015-16

Chamber / Committee

House of Commons chamber
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