British Youth Council calls for equal voting rights at 16 in UK.

Young people aged 16 and 17 year olds will vote in Scottish Parliamentary elections and Scottish Local Council elections for the first time today (Thursday 5th May 2016).  The British Youth Council and Votes at 16 Coalition are celebrating the historical moment as a landmark in the campaign for Votes at 16, but calls on the Government in Westminster and other devolved nations to make this an equal right in all elections in the UK.

Lowering the voting age continues to be a priority for the British Youth Council and after over 20 years of campaigning for a lower voting age in all UK elections and referenda we’ll continue to call on politicians to restore equal parity of franchise for young people in others parts of the country.

Jon Foster, Chair, British Youth Council said: “Today we can celebrate a huge win for the thousands of 16 and 17 year olds in Scotland who will now have a chance to vote in Scottish Parliamentary elections and Scottish Local Council elections for the first time following the precedent set by the Scottish Referendum back in 2014. We’ll be continuing to call on politicians in every other part of the UK to ensure 16 and 17 year olds get a vote in all elections!”

Katie Burke MSYP, Vice Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament who are members of the Votes at 16 Coalition said: “Today is a historic day in Scotland, and a massive step in the realisation of young people’s rights. Our parliament has campaigned for Votes at 16 since our formation in 1999, and I am overjoyed that our voices have been heard here in Scotland. However, our fellow 16 and 17-year-olds throughout the UK haven’t been afforded this same right, nor will Scottish 16 and 17-year-olds be able to vote in the upcoming EU Referendum or UK elections. We will continue to make the case for Votes at 16 on a UK-wide level until this contradiction is resolved.”

The British Youth Council, which has been campaigning for the enfranchisement of 16 and 17 year olds since 1992, will now call on the House of Commons and the National Assemblies/Parliament to re-open the debate and introduce legislation to ensure equal voting rights.  In 2014 the British Youth Council’s Youth Select Committee on Votes at 16 recommended that measures could and should be introduced, and in 2015 campaigned for the vote to be lowered in the EU referendum. This followed the precedent set by the Scottish independence referendum when lowering the franchise engaged a new generation in politics with impressive voter registration and turnout.

Find out more about the votes at 16 campaign.

British Youth Council members have chosen to prioritise mental health, votes at 16, and youth services as campaigns for 2016. During each year-long campaign, we’ll be building on the successes of our current mental health campaign, refreshing our campaign effort to save youth services across the country and reminding the Government why we think it’s important 16 and 17 year olds are given the opportunity to vote in all UK public elections and referenda.

The three issues, which were voted as priorities by our members, will build on the work we’ve done with partners to advance each campaign to a new level of debate. Our mental health campaign, which has included an in-depth inquiry into led by the Youth Select Committee on ‘Young People’s Mental Health’, will continue to target Government and local commissioners for further funding and better services for children and young people up and down the country. The Government has promised a formal response.

In our campaign to lower the voting age to 16, we aim to remind politicians of the precedent set by the Scottish Referendum which saw record levels of 16 and 17 year olds across Scotland voting for the very first time in history. This year we’re hoping the common sense argument will prevail –  that alongside a ‘curriculum for life’ with citizenship/political education and easy voter registration, votes at 16 is good for the future of democracy. We believe there is growing support  amongst Members of Parliament, as this becomes an question of equal rights (with Scotland) as well as good governance. You can find out more about votes at 16 and the coalition on our brand new website.

Lastly, in our campaign to save youth services, we aim to work closely with the national and local government to ensure that youth services are a core priority across the country despite the cuts to local authority budgets. We will also explore and encourage local partnerships involving young people to propose pragmatic solutions where there is unmet need.

Commenting on the new campaigns, Jon Foster, Chair of the British Youth Council said: “It’s absolutely imperative that we continue to be a loud voice on mental health and wellbeing, lowering the voting age to 16 and youth services. We’ll need to work hard to ensure all three issues are kept fully on the agendas of decision makers in the country because these are the issues that young people really care about!”

In the coming months we’ll be forming new partnerships and campaign actions to ensure mental health and wellbeing, the voting age and save our services are highlighted at every opportunity throughout the year.

The British Youth Council and Votes at 16 Coalition are disappointed to see the Government have blocked the Lords proposal to include 16 and 17 year olds a vote in the “In Out” EU Referendum due to be taken in 2017. The block comes after a sustained campaign calling on the Government to follow the precedent set by the Scottish Referendum which saw record levels of voting from young people.

The latest setback in the House of Commons saw Members of Parliament vote 303 to 253 to reject the Lords amendment to the European Union Referendum Bill in an attempt to block any further moves to give 16 and 17-year-olds the vote despite the Votes at 16 Coalition’s continuous calls for their inclusion since the bill was tabled by the Government in March 2015.

Ife Grillo, Vice Chair of Campaigns and Communications, British Youth Council said: “It’s really sad to see the Government have blocked the Lords amendment which was set to see 1.5 million 16 and 17 year olds enfranchised for the EU Referendum! Time and time again we’re having to go backwards and forwards on this debate and it’s about time we did what was right for young people living in the UK! This is a late but necessary change in our voting system”

In reaction to the Government’s rejection of the amendment, Jon Foster, Chair, British Youth Council said: “The Government have now resorted to using the cost of the introduction of votes at 16 as their main argument for not lowering the voting age for the EU Referendum but surely when young people are knocking on the door of democracy its worth every penny of investment! Young people should be at the table for this historical vote and it’s now clear from the precedent set by Scottish 16 and 17 year olds that young people are more than ready to take part!”

The British Youth Council has been campaigning for the enfranchisement of 16 and 17 year olds for 17 years and we’ll be continuing to push the Lords to rebel against despite the Commons’ ‘financial privilege’. As noted in UCL’s Report ‘Demystifying Financial Privilege’ the Lords could still table similar amendments in an attempt to force the bill to include a lower voting age.

Support across the UK for votes at 16 is building up, particular after last years Scottish Referendum which saw 80% voter registration and 75% voter turnout among 16 and 17 year olds, discarding arguments reporting a lack of appetite for involvement among young people. The Youth Select Committee’s report which was released in the Autumn of 2015 ruled that now was the time to implement measures for all public elections and referendums and further to that we have the recommendations of the Electoral Commission, which after careful analysis of the Scottish Referendum, outlines what should be considered in the event the franchise is amended to include 16 and 17 year olds means we have both the demand and expertise to repeat this again for the EU Referendum. Not to mention the clear support from the Scottish Government, National Assembly of Wales, the Northern Ireland Assembly and a growing number of English local authorities which it is making it untenable to deny 16 and 17 year olds the vote during any other elections or public referendums.

For more information or to speak to our media spokespeople please contact the   press office.

Votes at 16 in the EU referendum is now one step closer following a vote in the House of Lords, where 293 Lords voted in favour of an amendment to extend the franchise in the EU Referendum Bill. The Votes at 16 Coalition will now turn its focus back on the House of Commons as MPs prepare to accept or reject the amendment put forward by the Lords.

The British Youth Council, which has been campaigning for the enfranchisement of 16 and 17 year olds since 1998, have been calling on politicians to ensure 16 and 17 year olds are enfranchised in the “In Out” EU Referendum set to be taken in 2017 throughout the year with support from politicians on both sides of the Commons growing.

Ife Grillo, Vice Chair of Campaigns and Communications, British Youth Council said: “We at the British Youth Council have consistently called for 16 and 17year olds to be included in the EU Referendum and it’s great to know that common sense has finally prevailed! Earlier this year MPs decided to deny them the vote, and it’s great to see the House of Lords battling them on their poor judgement!”

“Young people have been knocking on the door of democracy for decades and Scottish 16 and 17 year olds have already proven that we’re ready during the referendum last year, that’s proof enough that young people are more than capable of taking part in this historical vote!”

Megan Dunn, President of NUS, a member of the Votes at 16 Coalition said: “Young people will bear the consequences of the EU referendum vote so it is only right that they should be able to have their say – so it’s very positive that peers have agreed with this common-sense case.

“The pressure is now on MPs to also recognise the right for young people to have their voice heard. Students across the country will be calling on their MPs to make sure they vote the right way when the bill returns to the House of Commons.”

The British Youth Council strongly believes that after decades of changes in our attitudes and vales resulting in amendments to the enfranchisement of more and more people, like women in 1918 and 18-24 year olds in 1969, that lowering the voting age is a late but necessary change in our voting system.

Proof that the UK is ready for votes at 16 is mounting up, particular after last years Scottish Referendum which saw 80% voter registration and 75% voter turnout among 16 and 17 year olds, discarding arguments reporting a lack of appetite for involvement among young people. Most young people uncertainty or resistance is about their ignorance of the political system and who best to vote for – which Scotland has shown can be addressed by clear and prepared education in schools and accessible media – which is obvious and why both young people and adults in Scotland are now strongly in favour. With this clear support from the Scottish Government, as well as the National Assembly of Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly it is becoming untenable to deny 16 and 17 year olds the vote during any other elections or public referendums.

Members of Scottish Parliament have today granted 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote in Scottish Parliamentary elections and Scottish Council elections. The British Youth Council and Votes at 16 Coalition welcomes the unanimous support for the voice of 16 and 17 year olds in Scotland and calls on the UK Government to follow suit and allow young people’s voice to be heard in the Westminster franchise.

The major win in Scotland comes after a continuous campaign for a lower voting age in all UK elections by the British Youth Council and the Votes at 16 Coalition andrecommendations by the Smith Commission which concluded the Scottish Parliament should be given powers to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in Scottish elections in time for the 2016 Scottish Parliamentary elections.

Mita Desai, Chair, British Youth Council said: “This is a major win for young Scots who will now have the opportunity to directly influence all future Scottish Parliamentary elections and Scottish Council elections. We are pleased to see Members of Scottish Parliament recognise the need to include 16 and 17 year olds who have been calling for this change since 1998. Today’s vote by MSPs and he precedent set by the Scottish Referendum last year only strengthen the argument for the inclusion of 16 and 17 year olds in the EU Referendum, and we hope MPs in the House of Commons recognise and respect that by ensuring 16 and 17 year olds are included in this historical referendum.”

Jordan Linden MSYP, Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament said: “I am absolutely delighted that MSPs have unanimously supported lowering the voting age to 16 in time for the next Scottish Parliament elections through the Scottish Elections (Reduction of Voting Age) Bill. I believe this will have a hugely positive impact on the overall levels of engagement. The young people of Scotland proved, through their engagement in the referendum process, that they take their right to vote very seriously, and they have collectively dispelled all of the myths and arguments against a lowered voting age. I’m proud that young people’s enthusiasm and passion has been recognised.”

The British Youth Council, which has been campaigning for the enfranchisement of 16 and 17 year olds since 1998, will continue to call on the House of Commons and the Welsh Assembly to ensure that 16 and 17-year-olds are not left behind in other parts of the countryoHous. Proof that the UK is ready for votes at 16 is mounting up, with theYouth Select Committee report released last year, ruling that now was the time to implement measures for all public elections and referendums. The report coupled with the recommendations of the Electoral Commission, which after careful analysis of the Scottish Referendum outlines what should be considered in the event the franchise is amended to include 16 and 17 year olds, means we have both the demand and expertise to repeat this again for the EU Referendum.

For more information or to speak to our media spokespeople please contact the press office.

The British Youth Council and Votes at 16 Coalition are disappointed to see the Government have denied 16 and 17 year olds a vote in the “In Out” EU Referendum due to be taken in 2017. The vote follows our sustained campaign which calls on the Government to change its mind and allow the voting age to be lowered in what is set to be a historical vote.

Three weeks ago the Government published the European Union Referendum Bill and has since declared they will not stray away from ‘Westminster franchise’ despite adapting it so Lords can vote. Young people proved during the Scottish Referendum, that when they’re given the chance, they will use their democratic right to shape the future of their country.

Pressure has been mounting on David Cameron and the Government in recent months with the Green Party, Labour, SNP and the Liberal Democrats all making their support for the campaign clear. In a passionate speech today Dr Sarah Wollaston MP for Totnes said “”we need to give young people a voice and a vote….we should accept they have the capacity to make these decisions”

Mita Desai, Chair, British Youth Council said: “Every single argument against votes at 16 has been proven wrong. Surely the logical next step was to give them their democratic right to vote? Unfortunately not. When 16 & 17 year olds were given the vote in Scotland, they proved what we already knew – they were passionate, interested and mature enough to take part. Common sense has lost and the Government have chosen to silence the voices of 16 & 17 year olds over their future despite giving their friends in the House of Lords an exclusive opportunity to take part in the historical vote. To say this is disappointing is an understatement. The British Youth Council will continue, as we always have, to fight for this right.”

The British Youth Council, which has been campaigning for the enfranchisement of 16 and 17 year olds since 1998, will be continuing to call on opposition parties to continue the pressure at every stage of the bill. The block has came not long before the news that 16 and 17 year olds have been given the right to vote in all future in all future Holyrood elections and Scottish Council elections.

Ife Grillo, Vice Chair of Campaigns and Communications, British Youth Council said: “It saddens me that the mass calls for Votes at 16 for this referendum have been ignored. So many politicians, adults and young people have come together to campaign on this issue and the fight is not over. We will keep pushing for Votes at 16 in all elections and to make sure decision makers start to listen to young people”

The British Youth Council strongly believes that after decades of changes in our attitudes and vales resulting in amendments to the enfranchisement of more and more people, like women in 1918 and 18-24 year olds in 1969, that lowering the voting age is a late but necessary change in our voting system. In report published earlier this week, even the leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davison MSP, has come out in support for votes at 16 declaring she was “unable to agree” with those who were opposed to the extension of the franchise.

Proof that the UK is ready for votes at 16 is mounting up, with the Youth Select Committee report released last year, ruling that now was the time to implement measures for all public elections and referendums. This coupled with the recommendations of the Electoral Commission, which after careful analysis of the Scottish Referendum outlines what should be considered in the event the franchise is amended to include 16 and 17 year olds means we have both the demand and expertise to repeat this again for the EU Referendum.

For more information or to speak to our media spokespeople please contact the press office.

British Youth Council calls on young people to “Lobbatweet” their MPs now.

Pressure is mounting on David Cameron and the Government to allow 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote in the “In Out” EU Referendum. Harriet Harman MP, Leader of the Opposition, used Prime Ministers Question time to call for votes at 16. “Why won’t [the Prime Minister] let 16 and 17 year olds vote? This is about the future of our country. They did in the Scottish Referendum, it’s their future too” she said. The Prime Minister replied “on the issue of 16 and 17 year olds I believe this house should vote on that issue”. The British Youth Council responded by appealing to all young people in favour to “Lobbatweet” at their MPs now, asking where they stand, and to back reform. Those in favour are listed on the votesat16 website where young people can check their MPs view. “The more who tweet – the more the undecided MPs will realise it’s not just politicians who favour a change – we want it too.”

This follows a debate on EU Referendum Bill yesterday which saw cross-party support for lowering the voting age. Labour’s Hillary Benn, SNP’s Philippa Whitford and the Liberal Democrats Tom Brake among others came forward to support the campaign following Green MP, Caroline Lucas’, initial plea to the Foreign Secretary: “I want to press the Foreign Secretary again on the question of extending the franchise to 16 and 17-year-olds. The answer he gave about why we should not do it-because it is an issue of national importance-is the main reason he should do it.”

Ife Grillo, Vice Chair of Campaigns and Communications, British Youth Council said: “I’m delighted to hear the issue of lowering the voting age has reached the dispatch box during Prime Ministers questions. The case for lowering the voting age in the EU Referendum is mounting at speed and the precedent set by young Scots last year only strengthens the argument for the inclusion of 16 and 17 year olds in the EU Referendum. MPs from across all nations of the UK are coming out in support of lowering the voting age and the issue cannot be ignored for any longer!”

The British Youth Council, which has been campaigning for the enfranchisement of 16 and 17 year olds since 1998, have called for a meeting with the Prime Minister to put forward their case on the voting age for the EU referendum.

In the open letter to the Prime Minister on Monday 25th May 2015, Mita Desai, Chair, British Youth Council called on the Government to follow the precedent set by the Scottish referendum and includes 16 and 17 year olds in the EU referendum ballot. She added: “We’ve been knocking on the door of democracy for decades – let us in and we will show we are just as able and willing as the young people in Scotland proved to be when faced with a similar historic, single issue and long term vote.”

The British Youth Council strongly believes that after decades of changes in our attitudes and vales resulting in amendments to the enfranchisement of more and more people, like women in 1918 and 18-24 year olds in 1969, that lowering the voting age is a late but necessary change in our voting system. Proof that the UK is ready for votes at 16 is mounting up, with the Youth Select Committee report released last year, ruling that now was the time to implement measures for all public elections and referendums. This coupled with the recommendations of the Electoral Commission, which after careful analysis of the Scottish Referendum outlines what should be considered in the event the franchise is amended to include 16 and 17 year olds means we have both the demand and expertise to repeat this again for the EU Referendum.

For more information or to speak to our media spokespeople please contact the  press office.

16 and 17 year olds must take part in EU Referendum.

In reaction to the publication of the EU Referendum Bill this morning the British Youth Council reminds the Government of its call for 16 and 17 year olds to vote in the “In Out” EU Referendum set to be taken in 2017.

The British Youth Council, which has been campaigning for the enfranchisement of 16 and 17 year olds since 1998 – have called for a meeting with the Prime Minister to put forward their case to be included in the EU referendum.

Ife Grillo, Vice Chair of Campaigns and Communications, British Youth Council said: “We at the British Youth Council – have written to the Prime Minister asking him and the Government to change their mind and allow us to vote – based on the Scottish precedent. We would like a meeting to put our case. This is not just about politicians calling for a widening of the franchise but it’s about a campaign we as young people have been running for years and gradually – one political party at a time – has come to agree with us. We would like him to answer us directly – and not make this a matter of political parties or yes no – but we want him to explain why and say what is needed to change his mind? Prime Minister — if you are listening – will you meet with us?”

In an open letter to the Prime Minister earlier this week, Mita Desai, Chair, British Youth Council called on the Government to follow the precedent set by the Scottish referendum and includes 16 and 17 year olds in the EU referendum ballot. She added: “We’ve been knocking on the door of democracy for decades – let us in and we will show we are just as able and willing as the young people in Scotland proved to be when faced with a similar historic, single issue and long term vote.”

The British Youth Council strongly believes that after decades of changes in our attitudes and vales resulting in amendments to the enfranchisement of more and more people, like women in 1918 and 18-24 year olds in 1969, that lowering the voting age is a late but necessary change in our voting system. Proof that the UK is ready for votes at 16 is mounting up, with the Youth Select Committee report released last year, ruling that now was the time to implement measures for all public elections and referendums. This coupled with the recommendations of the Electoral Commission, which after careful analysis of the Scottish Referendum outlines what should be considered in the event the franchise is amended to include 16 and 17 year olds means we have both the demand and expertise to repeat this again for the EU Referendum.

Open Letter

For more information or to speak to our media spokespeople please contact the  press office.

• Conservatives more popular than UKIP and the Green Party with those too young to vote at 16 and 17, yet  this is the one remaining major party that continues to oppose their right to vote.

• Britain’s 16 and 17 year olds don’t have the right to vote at this General Election but if they did a YouGov poll of potential young voters reveals a clear difference between the non-voting 16-17 group and the 18-24 year old electorate.

• Labour still lead overall (37%), but Conservatives (32%) are back in second place, taking votes from Greens (13%) and UKIP (6%) with 16 and 17 year olds, compared with 18-24 who put Lab (36%) Green (20%) Cons (19%) and UKIP (14%)

The British Youth Council, the national youth-led charity who campaigns for votes at 16, commissioned YouGov to ask about voting intentions of those aged 16-24. Whilst this put Labour ahead with both groups, the younger group prefer the Conservatives to both the Green Party and UKIP in contrast to the 18-24 year olds.

They’d choose Tories (32%) ahead of the Greens (13%) and  UKIP (6%) , compared with 19% of 18-24 year olds, a massive 13 points difference. Both age groups would still favour Labour overall 36-37%.

Votes at 16 is one of five priority campaigns in the British Youth Council’s newly published Election Manifesto, Our Parliament Our Vision 2015-2020, which challenges the next Government to take action under the direction of a new dedicated Youth Minister, whose role would be to not only coordinate a Ministerial Youth Cabinet, but to continue to listen and engage young peoples’ voices between elections. The other priorities are: the living wage for all; equal, accessible and quality mental health services for young people; restore funding to Youth Services; and introduce mandatory First Aid in schools.

The British Youth Council will be releasing more polling data over the next few weeks to indicate the number registered to vote and whether they intend to turnout to vote – in response to a UK wide campaign to register and vote being led by the League of Young Voters coalition www.leagueofyoungvoters.org.uk

Do you think that 16 and 17 have the maturity and experience to make informed and wise electoral choices?  What does this YouGov poll preference by them (compared with 18-24) for the Conservative party over Greens and UKIP say about their judgement?  Is there any relationship between this and the coalition Governments investment in National Citizen Service for 16 year olds, which includes citizenships education?

We at the British Youth Council know that young people are far more engaged and self-taught with single issue politics and campaigns than they are given credit for, and the growing numbers engaging in peer elections and youth in democracy initiatives, like the UK Youth Parliament, are the silent un-reported proof of that interest. (876,000 took part in their Make Your Mark poll in 2014).

When 16 and 17 year olds were trusted enough to take part in the Scottish independence referendum, they were given a special curriculum in schools to prepare for it, and engaged in the media debate as responsible young adults. Consequently, in Scotland the majority of adults and young people are now united in welcoming that franchise to continue. Will those who continue to question their capacity to be ‘voters’ think again, and will those who have already committed to lowering the vote – pause to consider that it’s not enough to lower the vote – but to educate for it as well.

Talk to us not about us.

For more information or to speak to our media spokespeople please contact the press office.