Voting age could be lowered in Scotland and Wales

29 June 2009 1 min read Joe Lepper Youth Work

Young people in Scotland and Wales but not England could be given the right to vote at 16, under controversial plans being put forward by the Youth Citizenship Commission.

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?

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