Going to polls at 16 gets McMahon's vote

JIM McMahon MP meets Oldham Youth Council members

OLDHAM MP Jim McMahon has backed calls for the voting age in the UK to be lowered from 18 to 16 and has made it the subject of his Private Members Bill.

The MP for Oldham West and Royton was one of 20 members who were successfully drawn to present a Private Members Bill in Parliament.

Mr McMahon, who was placed at number 9 on the ballot, has been a strong advocate for including young people in democracy and as Oldham's Council Leader he oversaw a review of the council's constitution which allowed the Youth Council to submit motions and reports to the Full Council for debate.

He also led a local campaign for voter registration for 18 and 19 year olds.

Mr McMahon said: "Young people must be able to make their mark. They need a voice; and the best voice is the vote. I'm clear on this: if you can work, join the armed forces, and pay taxes, then you are quite capable of making a decision at the ballot box about who you want in government.

"This isn't a new discussion point. But it's time has come. The large voter turnout of young people at the June election showed that young people are standing up for what they believe in.

"The Labour Party are the only party seriously talking about issues that matter to young people: from abolishing university tuition fees, to reversing school cuts, and banning unpaid internships to raising the minimum wage."

The Labour and Co-Operative MP has been working with Oldham's Youth Council on the bill, with all members of the youth council voting in favour of putting forward votes at 16 as a topic for the Private Members Bill after discussing a range of different topics.

Amber Powell (18), chair of the youth council, said: "We have campaigned on this issue for so long, and it is great to get an opportunity like this. Young people in Oldham want the vote at 16, and of course the youth council is here to get those issues heard."