Time has come for government to back votes at 16

Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran has urged the UK Government to legislate to lower the voting age to 16 in the wake of the Welsh Assembly supporting equivalent plans today.  In Scotland, a bill allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote was passed unanimously in 2015.  Ms Moran said:  “If we are happy to allow a 16 year old to pay tax, be a parent or serve in the army then we should not deny them the right to vote. That is why Liberal Democrats have led on this campaign from the start.  “With 16 and 17-year-olds playing an active role in elections in Scotland and now the Welsh Assembly backing plans too, the genie is out of the bottle.  “Given Brexit poses so many threats to the lives of young people, they deserve their voice to be heard. It is time to demand better from the UK Government. It is time Ministers ensured every 16 and 17 year old across the UK has the same right to vote.”