Forum Topic

Local MP calls for People's Vote to allow young people have their say

18 is the age when people can vote in this country. Arguably it should be older, when people have gained some life experience and understand their responsibilities better.Anyway - what am I to do as a lifelong Labour voter suspicious of the EU project when it comes to the next election?

Andy Herrick ● 2463d10 Comments

I'm not a fan of compulsory voting per se, and my own record of voting will show that I've voted once in elections in the last 20 years.  But on something like Brexit to me that's when it should be compulsory.It's rather like (touchy subject I know) a consultation, a consultation doesn't necessarily reflect the wishes of the people, it reflects the wishes of those would could be bothered to respond.  And unfortunately therefore the views of the people who don't respond or don't vote are completely disregarded.Many will say well that's their fault for not responding/voting, but I don't personally think it's as simple as that.  Years back I used to have to send out customer survey questionnaires to complainants when we closed a planning enforcement case and inevitably the response was completely skewed by (a) the outcome of the case, and (b) what the case was about - so if we couldn't take action under national legislation we were useless, and if the complaint was about a satellite dish then often the complainant would say that satellite dishes should be our priority...strangely enough I soon stopped sending out such surveys.

Adam Beamish ● 2463d

It would be good if all youngsters learned something at school about politics.  Or is it that they do - and that is why they are so disinterested/feel so disenfranchised.  Although of course they were promised that they wouldn't have to pay for their university courses - only to have the promise reneged on - so consequently they believe that all politicians are liars.

Philippa Bond ● 2463d

I think it would be an idea if ALL British people over 18 could vote.

Nicholas Beard ● 2463d

For me, whilst I don't agree with the notion of a second vote, any referendum of something like Brexit should be based on compulsory voting for all those eligible to vote, as it's a single issue matter and it has nothing to do with party politics.Had that been the case with the 2016 referendum, it could genuinely be said which option reflected the majority of the people, rather than reflecting the majority of people which bothered to vote.

Adam Beamish ● 2463d

Hounslow: REMAIN 58755 LEAVE 56321.

Steve Taylor ● 2463d

" gaining some credence with the minority who voted to remain in the borough" The majority in this borough voted to remain.

Steve Taylor ● 2463d

Another cynical exercise to gander her falling reputation as our MP, since falling out with the local Labour group & the public at large.By jumping on the band wagon of a second vote & championing the cause of an age drop for the young vote, she sees this as a way of gaining some credence with the minority who voted to remain in the borough, according to the statistics posted on this forum in another thread.

Robin Dickers ● 2463d

I agree Vanessa as its absurd that you can leave school at sixteen and also marry and join the army but do not have a vote

Paul Fisher ● 2463d

I'd quite like to see the voting age lowered permanently to 16 anyway. The sooner people understand and engage with the democratic process the better, we might just get better informed decision making instead of decisions influenced by Twitter/You Tube/Instagram/Facebook - whatever.

Vanessa Smith ● 2463d

Not sure how she has the cheek to propose this as where do we draw the line? If a new vote did not go the way she wants would she then want the current crop of 16 and seventeen year olds to also have a crack in two years time?

Paul Fisher ● 2463d