Last-ditch attempt to lower voting age in EU referendum fails

On Monday, 246 peers voted for the fresh amendment to the EU Referendum Bill, but 263 peers voted against – a majority of 17.

The decision not to press the government over the issue came less than a month after the House of Lords backed a previous amendment lowering the voting age, which was blocked by MPs on the basis that it would cost an estimated £6m to implement.

Speaking before the vote, Justice Minister Lord Faulks said: “This house has now discussed the question of the voting age many times since the election in relation to this bill and the Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill, so this is now well-trodden ground.

“The government’s position is therefore well known. We do not believe that it is appropriate to lower the voting age to 16 and, even if it were, this bill would not be the place to make such a change.”

Labour’s shadow minister for foreign affairs in the Lords Baroness Eluned Morgan moved the amendment, stating she was “deeply disappointed” the House of Commons did not support the previous amendment.

“We would dispute the amount that the government has suggested would be the cost of this amendment,” she said.

“Now £6m in the context of total government expenditure of £760bn is chicken feed. It amounts to less than one thousandth of one per cent of the UK budget."

??Taking to Twitter after the vote, Prime Minister David Cameron said “voters will have an in/out choice before the end of 2017”.

Youth groups including the Votes at 16 Campaign and the British Youth Council also took to social media to express their disappointment.

“A sad day for democracy today. We will continue to fight for votes at 16 in all public elections and referendums,” the British Youth Council said.

The Electoral Reform Society said the result was “disappointing”, but added “the votes at 16 argument is stronger than ever”.