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MYPs stood alongside politicians and fellow young activists on Wednesday 4th June to mark the second reading of the Voting Age (Reduction) Bill to be held on Friday 6th June. |
The launch was chaired by MP Julie Morgan, with cross-party support from John Bercow and Jo Swinson, making it clear that this was issue beyond party politics. Morgan, who gave the Bill a second reading after having her name drawn in the Private Members’ Ballot last November, said “I think it’s time for young people to be listened to more seriously – if they could vote, this would certainly happen much more".
Robert Sassoon, Reading MYP and Suzanne Gardener, Warwickshire DMYP, both spoke on behalf of young people crying out for a voice. Suzanne, 16 years old, said "I am part of a generation that is being excluded from voting and a good example of young people that want to be engaged, it’s time politicians sat up and listened"
Opening the second reading of her bill on Friday, Morgan said "Where the voting age has been lowered...turnout at elections has been boosted. In Germany, there has been higher turnout among the 16-to-18 age group than among the 18-to-24 age group. There are similar examples in the UK. More than 20,000 young people voted in Essex to elect six members of the UK Youth Parliament from 92 candidates. That is tremendous"
The debate was still going when time ran out and the bill now goes back down the list of backbench bills.
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