Sixteen and seventeen year olds can work, pay taxes, consent to medical treatment, get married, enter a civil partnership and join the armed forces. But it is deeply unfair that they are not also able to take part in the elections which determine how our economy and our public services are run.

In the next two years there will be a nation-wide referendum on whether the UK should remain a part of the European Union or not. This is a key decision that will have a huge impact on all of our futures, including millions of young people throughout the country. Hazel Grove Liberal Democrats believe very strongly that they should be able to vote in that referendum.

LibDems in Parliament voted to lower the voting age to 16 for this referendum last week. Despite 265 MPs voting for it, the Government were able to defeat the attempt to lower the voting age

But the fight isn’t over yet. There will be more opportunities to change the voting age in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, and we’ll keep fighting to make it happen.

So will you back my campaign for votes at 16 by signing our petition?

When sixteen and seventeen year olds were given the right to vote for the first time in last year’s referendum on Scottish Independence, three quarters of them turned out to vote and almost all of those who took part said they would vote in future elections.

When sixteen and seventeen year olds were given the opportunity to engage and speak up they used it.

So sign our petition here and tell the Government that you want all young adults to have a vote on our country’s future.

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