At the age of 16 young people in the UK are deemed mature enough to be given plenty of legal privileges. They can have sex, start full-time employment, leave home and consent to a gay relationship. They can also get married or join the armed forces, providing they have parental consent. These are major life decisions, so why do young people still have to be 18 before they're thought responsible enough to vote?
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is expected to announce the date of this year's general election today (6 April). Start a discussion with young people about whether they should be able to vote in parliamentary elections at the age of 16. Is it fair that young people aren't allowed to vote? Do young people feel they are responsible enough to vote at 16? How many young people would vote at this age if they had the opportunity? Is having the vote important to them? Why do they think the current voting age is set at 18?
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