According to an article in the London Evening Standard on 15 February, support for lowering the voting age to 16 is growing among Conservative MPs, though the government has ruled out any change. In the main letter printed in the paper on 19 February under the heading “The age of majority for everything should be 16”, Alistair Lexden asked whether consistency should now be considered, with all rights becoming available at 16.
Legislation to give votes to 16-year-olds will not run into any problems in the House of Lords [“Voting age could be cut to 16 before the next general election, says senior Tory”, February 15].
Labour and Liberal Democrats, who have a majority in the second chamber, will speed its passage enthusiastically.
If they had had their way, the voting age would have been lowered for the EU referendum. An amendment to include 16-year-olds passed the Lords, but was overturned in the House of Commons.
It is obviously unsatisfactory to have a lower voting age for the Scottish Parliament (with the Welsh Assembly expected to follow suit) and a higher one for Westminster.
Indeed, maybe 16 should become the new age of majority for everything -- including buying cigarettes, jury service, and fighting on the front line which currently start at 18?
Can different rights at different ages be justified any longer?
Alistair Lexden
House of Lords