Young people too malleable

Sir, - SNP MP Angus Robertson seeks to lower the voting age to 16.

This position has been agreed in Scotland and is applicable at all elections with the exception of the Westminister vote. I believe this decision was wrong and was slewed by the political agenda of the majority party.

It was argued that at 16, adolescents are mature enough to express a preference.

Young voters are malleable and not totally cognisant of all the circumstances and are more prone to react to peer pressure and a wish to be in agreement with it.

They can more easily get excited in the euphoria of the moment and be bowled along with it. The SNP have not been slow to take advantage of this.

Youth by its very nature is a period when one is free to experiment, challenge and rebel against authority, indeed harbour thoughts of changing the world.

I would have it no other way, rather I would encourage this aspect of human behaviour, but it must be tempered with responsibility. There are adolescents who are well able to discharge their public duties responsibility, but this is the exception rather than the rule. We must err on the side of the majority. AG Walker. Puddledub Cottage, Guthrie.

Young voters are malleable and not totally cognisant of the all the circumstances and are more prone to react to peer pressure and a wish to be in agreement with it