Council backs bid to lower vote age

HALTON Borough Council voted overwhelmingly to support a campaign to lower the voting age to 16-years-old in all elections across the country.

Cllr Stef Nelson proposed the motion at a Full Council meeting which will involve the local authority backing the UK Youth Parliament’s (UKYP) initiative.

The council will call on the Government to back the bid to lower the voting age and to ensure young people are educated about political matters.

The issue was raised by Halton’s Member Of UK Youth Parliament (MYP) Ewan Jago.

Votes at 16 has been a long standing campaign aim for the Youth Parliament and was one of the top topics in Halton in last year’s UKYP Make Your Mark ballot.

This year’s General Election showed a sharp increase in the number of 18 to 24-year-olds voting and a resurgence in interest in all things political among young people.

Cllr Tom McInerney, Halton Borough Council’s executive board member for children, young people and families, said: “I believe that young people are underestimated in their ability to make informed decisions. I support this.”

Ewan is 14 years old and a student at Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy.

He was elected to the UKYP in March on a platform to campaign for votes at 16 and to work towards improving sports and leisure facilities for young people in Halton.

Speaking after the vote to back the campaign, Ewan said: “It is absolutely brilliant that Halton Borough Council have passed this motion.

“Votes at 16 needs to be brought in and this brings the UK Youth Parliament one step closer to making that happen and giving 16 and 17-yearolds the say they deserve and the opportunity to shape their own future.”

For more information about the Halton Youth Cabinet email enquiries@haltonyc.com or visit www.haltonyc.com