MPs to decide on votes at 16 in EU referendum

Responding to a question in parliament today from acting Labour leader Harriet Harman, Cameron said the decision on whether 16- and 17-year-olds could take part will be up to the “house”.

“I believe this house should vote on that issue,” Cameron said.

“The Conservative manifesto is clear and my position is clear.

"I think we should stick with the current franchise at 18 but the House of Commons can vote [on 16- and 17-year-old involvement in the referendum].”

The British Youth Council (BYC) is now calling on all young people to “Lobbatweet” at their MPs over social media site Twitter, to encourage them to back reform.  

BYC chair Mita Desai said: “16- and 17-year-olds have been calling to be enfranchised since 1998 and it's imperative MPs remember this during the commons vote David Cameron has promised.”

Dominic Weinberg, partnerships and policy manager at the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS), said NCVYS would have liked Cameron to commit to lowering the voting age but the announcement is still an important step.

“We continue to work with our members and young people to show their local MPs why it’s important that young people’s voices are heard in our political system.

"We hope that by the time a vote takes place in the House of Commons enough MPs will have been persuaded to support extending the vote," he said.

Jon Boagey, acting chief executive of the National Youth Agency said: “There is a growing consensus that 16- and 17-year-olds should be given the vote although this has always been opposed by the Conservatives.

"It could have a radical impact on the outcome – if turnout was high as it was in the Scottish referendum.

"Politicians’ anxiety is that it may create a newly motivated, engaged electorate, who demand the right to vote in all other elections, are ready to contemplate fresh approaches and hold politicians to account with no particular party affiliations.”

Plans for a referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union were passed on Tuesday by 544 to 53 votes.