Voting Age

Debate between Fabian Hamilton and Peter Bottomley

Thursday 24th January 2013 Commons Chamber

[Fabian Hamilton]

I could not agree more with my hon. Friend. Indeed, if young people aged 16 were able to vote, perhaps their representatives here in the House of Commons might change their minds on smoking not being allowed until the age of 18.

[Sir Peter Bottomley]

Our colleague and hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Philip Davies) may have helped us a bit. The question essentially comes down to whether giving teenagers the opportunity to register to vote at 16 will do any harm. The answer is clearly no. Can it do any good? The answer is yes. On the point about smoking, only teenagers take it up: it is not an adult thing to do but a childish thing.

[Fabian Hamilton]

There is little I can add to the hon. Gentleman’s points. I agree wholeheartedly with them.