Voting age could be lowered in Scotland and Wales

In its final report the commission is recommending that the devolved UK governments be given the power to lower the voting age.

But with the Welsh and Scottish governments in favour of a move and MPs at Westminster undecided about lowering the voting age this could leave young people in England missing out.

Among those to hit out against the commission's devolved approach is the Children's Rights Alliance for England's head of policy and public affairs Sam Dimmock.

She said: "If 16 and 17 year-olds in Paisley and Powys are able to vote, why not those in Preston, Peterborough or Plymouth?

"The voting age must be reduced consistently across the UK to avoid unnecessary discrimination against young people."

Votes at 16 Coalition spokesman Tom Burke is also concerned. He said: "Devolving responsibility for the voting age is an unnecessary delay in achieving real change. Our message to Gordon Brown is clear - don't dither with devolution; just do it. We believe that the voting age should be reduced to 16 in all UK public elections."