Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

Debate between Natascha Engel and Graham P Jones

Monday 18th October 2010 Commons Chamber

[Natascha Engel]

Indeed. At 16, people are allowed to do many things over which they have no say. The argument I am trying to make is that, as we are proposing a fundamental change in the voting system for a parliamentary election, at the referendum—and referendums are rare—that will happen only a few years before the general election at which we propose to change the voting system, it is only right that the people who will be affected by it should have a say in whether they want that system changed.

[Graham Jones (Hyndburn) (Lab)]

Does my hon. Friend agree that as well as the principled reasons why the age for taxation and for voter registration is 16, there are also some practical reasons? Sixteen is not just an arbitrary number; it is quite sensible and there is a fundamental principle behind it.

[Natascha Engel]

I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention.