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Parliament votes to lower voting age

January 24, 2013 3:46 PM

Thirteen years after Simon Hughes was the first MP to force a vote on lowering the voting age in the UK to 16, the House of Commons today voted for the first time to support lowering the voting age in all UK elections and referendums.

The vote was on a motion proposed by Simon's colleague the Liberal Democrat MP for Bristol West, Stephen Williams, who has today also published a draft bill on the subject.

Speaking after the debate Rt Hon Simon Hughes MP said:

"Votes at 16 has been central to Liberal Democrat policy for many years and I am delighted with the result of today's vote.

"I firmly believe that younger people have as much to contribute to democracy as anyone else, and extending the franchise to sixteen year olds can only benefit politics.

"I look forward to parliament now moving swiftly on this issue, and I urge the government to consider Stephen Williams' draft legislation as soon as possible."

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