Wokingham Lib Dems' success with 'Votes at 16' debate

12.00.00am GMT Thu 27th Nov 2003

Wokingham Liberal Democrats were delighted when several Tories voted with them to support the "Votes at 16" campaign at last night's Council Meeting at Wokingham District Council.

Councillor Coling Lawley (newly elected Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group) said, "We firmly believe that young people of 16 should be given the vote. Most of the Tories voted against it, but enough of them voted with the Liberal Democrats to win the debate. We believe it is a nonsense that 16 year olds are considered old enough to get married, have children, pay taxes, work full-time, pay adult fares on public transport and join the armed forces, but are not considered mature enough to vote."</'

Councillor Stephen Conway (newly elected Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group) said, "Some of the views expressed in the debate were quite extraordinary. Some Tories were highly condescending about 16 year olds and one was downright insulting. As the Tory Party does not have a policy about Votes at 16, the Tories were given a free vote. This gave the Wokingham Tories a rare opportunity to express their own opinions, and we were very happy to see some of the Tories choosing to support the Liberal Democrats.

"Perhaps we should have debates on the many issues where the Tory Party don't appear to have any policies, then we would see much more agreement at Wokingham District Council!"

The Chairman of the Council will now write to the Government expressing the Council's support for the "Votes at 16" campaign.

The Motion for debate was as follows:

"This Council believes that as young people can pay tax at sixteen, get married and have children at sixteen, fight for their country at sixteen, pay adult fares on public transport at sixteen and be employed full-time at sixteen, they should be able to vote at sixteen. This Council believes that it is unfair in a democracy for people to be taxed without representation.

Therefore, this Council supports the Votes at Sixteen campaign and will write to the Government urging them to reduce the voting age to sixteen without delay."