YOUNG PEOPLE IN Moray and throughout the UK should be allowed to vote in the forthcoming EU referendum, according to Westminster’s youngest MP.
MP’s are being urged to back moves to give 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote in a decision that will affect their futures.
In the Scottish Independence referendum last year young people were engaged in the voting process for the first time – and steps have already been taken to allow them to vote in the Scottish Government elections next year.
Now an embarrassing setback for the UK Government at the House of Lords last week saw a vote of 293 to 211 in favour of amending the EU Referendum Bill to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote on Europe.
The youngest MP at Westminster, the SNP’s Mhairi Black, said: “The UK government must recognise how crucial it is that our young people get to play a full part in the EU referendum debate.
“We know that those who get into the habit of voting early are more likely to vote often for life. It is also important that those who will have to live longest with the decision on whether or not to stay in the European Union have their say.
“We want to see as many citizens as possible take part in the EU referendum too and that is why SNP MPs previously put down a similar amendment to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote. We hope the vote in the House of Lords will force the Tory government to reconsider their opposition and hold a more democratic debate.”