MP slams Tory’s arguments against giving younger people right to vote
WEAVER Vale Labour MP Mike Amesbury has blasted ‘ridiculous’ claims that allowing young people to vote could be harmful to them.
Speaking in a House Of Commons debate on lowering the voting age to include 16 and 17-year-olds, he challenged comments made by Kit Malthouse, Conservative MP for North West Hampshire, who likened the need to protect teenagers to the way they would be protected from activities such as gambling.
A spokesman for Mr Amesbury’s office said the voting age has already been lowered for Scottish parliamentary and local elections and there are plans to do so in Wales, but the UK Government continues to oppose votes at 16 in England.
The Conservative filibustered the latest motion, drawing out the length of the debate so there was no time for a vote, a move which Mr Amesbury branded ‘disgraceful’.
Mr Malthouse said: “It is generally accepted that gambling is bad for young people, in recognition of the two stages of brain development in young people: the first prior to six, when 95% of the brain is formed, and the second during adolescence, when enormous changes take place and when we have to take extreme care over how young people develop. The science is with us on this.” ●
He added: “The Bill would create the ridiculous situation whereby a young person could vote but not then place a wager on the outcome of the election in which they had just voted, which seems extraordinary.”
Mr Amesbury replied: “Is the hon Gentleman seriously suggesting that voting at 16 or 17 is bad for people’s health— besides voting for the Tory Party?”
He added: “At 16, you are eligible to pay tax, get married or even join the Army.
“I therefore believe that 16 and 17-year-olds deserve a vote.”