MPs give backing to teenagers in parliament

MEMBERS of Parliament say teenagers should be able to stand for election, but that the voting age should not be cut, a poll has revealed.

The findings come as the Electoral Commission is expected to recommend reducing the limit for prospective MPs from 21 to 18.

The independent body may also suggest lowering the age of majority from 18 to 16, following a review of the voting system.

Labour is expected to take up the conclusions in the party’s general election manifesto. Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, has previously expressed his opposition to lowering the age that people can become MPs - and collecting the 57,485 annual salary.

Those lobbying see a recent article by David Miliband, the schools minister, backing the move as the sign of change of heart.

But Conservatives have vowed to fight the change and a majority of their Labour colleagues are also opposed, the survey of MPs shows.

Overall, 56 per cent of MPs questioned by CommunicateResearch said the minimum voting age should not be cut. On the Labour benches, 50 per cent said it should stay at 18 while 43 per cent favoured 16 and just 8 per cent 17.

That will hearten Conservatives, who reject suggestions that lowering the limit will encourage more young people to take part.

At the 2001 general election the 39 per cent turnout among 18 to 25-year-olds was the lowest of any age group.

The Liberal Democrats have long campaigned for a younger age for voters and candidates.

But Charles Hendry, the shadow minister for young people, said: "Lowering the voting age will do nothing to address the underlying causes of apathy and voter apathy among young people - it would just serve to lower the average level of turnout.

"Conservatives believe that the voting age and candidacy age should be standardised at 18.

"Such an age is widely accepted as signifying a major turning point in one’s personal development, marking the time when a young person becomes an adult.

"Opening the door to younger elected representatives - such as 18-year-old councillors - will do far more to re-engage young people in politics and create a new tier of representatives who can champion the issues that young people are concerned with."

Half of those questioned, exactly 50 per cent, said the minimum age for an MP should be lowered to 18 while another 5 per cent said it should be 16 and 45 per cent opposed a cut.

• The survey was conducted between 9 and 27 February among 201 MPs on the CommunicateResearch Parliamentary Panel (106 Labour, 63 Conservative and 32 from other parties).

Data was weighed to reflect the parties’ strength in the Commons and rounded up.