Young leaders 'adopt' peers in votes at 16 bid

UKYP launched the Adopt a Lord campaign after young parliamentarians selected lowering the voting age to 16 as its priority issue for 2014 during their annual debate at the House of Commons last month.

The aim of the initiative is for young people to personally lobby members of the House of Lords and demonstrate their political awareness as well as their passion for gaining the vote.

As part of the campaign, each peer will be ‘adopted’ by at least one young person who will be responsible for keeping in regular contact throughout 2014 in an attempt to generate support for lowering the voting age.

Lord Tyler, whose Voting Age (Comprehensive Reduction) Bill is currently being considered by both Houses, has welcomed the launch of the campaign.

He said: “The British Youth Council and UK Youth Parliament are helping young people to show peers that they are engaged with politics – sometimes more than their elders – and should be able to express their views at the ballot box.

“Once adopted by a young citizen, I’m sure more of my colleagues will be persuaded to support my bill to lower the voting age to 16.

“Politicians who think 16- and 17-year-olds should still be seen but not heard have a shock to come.”

James Cathcart, chief executive of the British Youth Council, added: “While young people campaign on their own they will always be in the minority of public opinion, but campaigns like this mark a shift in tactics, to target and form alliances with other stakeholders, and other age groups, and open up a new front in the campaign.”