16-year-old Scots set to get vote by 2011 election

Published on Sunday 8 March 2009 00:35

THE voting age could soon be reduced from 18 to 16, in a move which could see students sitting their Highers being able to vote in the next Holyrood elections.

Energy minister Ed Miliband, who is in charge of Labour's manifesto for the UK elections, used a speech to the Scottish Labour conference yesterday to reinforce his support for the move.

Miliband said: "It's a two-way street with young people: you've got to give them a voice. It's fine to demand responsibility from them, but you've got to show respect for them as well. I don't think changing the voting age to 16 is a great panacea, but I do think it's part of an attitude we need to pursue. I think it's the right thing to do."

Miliband added: "It is gathering support (within the party] and it is an idea that a few years ago might have been dismissed, but I think it is more and more supported."

Miliband's show of support comes as a Government consultation on the move reaches its end, after which ministers will announce concrete proposals. The move has been backed by the SNP in Scotland, which wants powers to decide on the measure to be handed over to the Scottish Parliament.

Austria became the first country in Europe to reduce the voting age to 16, in 2007. The move was heavily defeated in the UK when last voted on in 1999, but since then views have changed markedly as turnout in elections continues to fall.

Politicians on all sides fear that young people are increasingly turning away from political engagement and believe that the move may encourage more to get involved.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has suggested he would give his backing to the idea, while Conservative leader David Cameron is also said to support the move.

Westminster MPs could legislate for the Scottish Parliament as well, meaning the Holyrood elections in 2011 could be among the first to be held under a new system, if the Government decides to press ahead.