Voting age lowers in Scotland – but not for EU referendum

The voting age for Scottish Parliament and local government elections will be lowered to 16 from spring 2016 – but 16 and 17-year-olds will be denied a say on whether Britain remains in the European Union.

Holyrood yesterday gave its final approval to the Scottish Elections (Reduction of Voting Age) Bill, without a division at stage 3. At the same time, the House of Commons voted by 310-265 against lowering the age to 16 for the EU referendum. 

Labour MP Barry Sheerman caused controversy by suggesting that the move would "shrink childhood", and that a move to having adults at 16 "will make a lot of young men and women more vulerable to sexual predation than happens at the moment".

The age of majority in Scotland has been 16 since 1991.

The Commons also rejected a move to allow EU nationals to vote in the referendum.

Holyrood however rejected a Liberal Democrat attempt to extend voting rights to young offenders in custody.

Following the stage 3 vote, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “I welcome the broad cross-party support there has been for our proposals that will give young people a permanent voice on matters that affect them.

“Since we first proposed lowering the voting age, I have been extremely impressed by the thoughtful and passionate contributions that young people have made to the debate – Scotland’s young people have made a persuasive case and should be extremely proud of that.”