Letters: Voting folly

It was disappointing to see Brian Allan call my plea to reduce the voting age to 16 a "disastrous idea" (Letters, 16 April).

Mr Allan is clearly happy for 16 year olds, who he describes as "naive", to pay taxes, get married, start a family and join the armed forces, yet take no part in voting for those politicians influencing such measures.

Mr Allan claims that the SNP support such a proposal, despite it also being called for by the Liberal Democrats and now the Labour Party (subject to a free vote), because of the apparent misguided support for independence by these young people. Interestingly, however, support is greater for independence by those in the 25-34 age group than those in the 18-24 age group

ALEX ORR, Bryson Road, Edinburgh