THERESA May has rejected calls to lower the voting age to 16.
The Tory leader was pushed on the franchise during Prime Minister’s Questions, the last before Parliament breaks for the summer later today.
Tory infighting and her own future dominated the session, with Labour’s Ian Murray even referring to May as the “interim Prime Minister”.
In her question, the SNP’s deputy leader at Westminster Kirsty Blackman said recent elections had shown young people proving “themselves to be the most knowledgeable and most engaged that they have ever been” and asked for the Prime Minister to “support giving votes to 16 and 17-year-olds”.
Blackman suggested there was a majority of MPs in favour of the change.
Two Labour MPs yesterday announced they would be bringing Private Members Bills in the Commons to have the voting age dropped.
May, who has constantly been against the proposal, said she was of no mind to change.
“My view has always been and continues to be that 18 is the right age.
“We expect people to continue in education or training until the age of 18, and I think that is the right point for the voting age.”
Figures released by the Electoral Commission earlier this week suggested more than 2.9 million people had applied to register to vote between May’s announcement of a snap election on 18 April and the deadline for applications on 22 May.
The majority of those applying for a vote – around 70 per cent – were under the age of 34.
The main benefactor of those votes was Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who, yesterday, found himself turning the tables on May.
For most of his leadership he has been fighting with his own benches, while the Tories looked on gleefully.
But yesterday, during a series of questions on in-work poverty, the veteran left winger was able to accuse the Tories of “bickering and backbiting” and failing to properly lead the country.
“The reality is that wages are falling, the economy is slowing, the construction sector is in recession, the trade deficit is widening, and we face crucial Brexit negotiations. Is not the truth that this divided Government are unable to give this country the leadership it so desperately needs now to deal with these issues?”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel