Lib Dems campaign for votes at 16

The Lib Dems have been campaigning to give 16 and 17 year olds the vote for sometime now. Unfortunately, the Conservative Government has refused to allow young people the vote in the upcoming European Referendum - but the Lib Dems are now pushing to allow 16 and 17 year olds the vote in local elections.

John Shipley, a Lib Dem Member in the House of Lords, has tabled a motion in the Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill that will be debated on Tuesday as the Bill begins ping pong between the Commons and the Lords.

Leader of the Lib Dems on Woking Borough Council, Councillor Will Forster said:

"Young people must have a say in how their lives and the communities they live in are run. The Government continues to discriminate based on where you live, young people in Scotland were given a vote on their future yet their Welsh and English counterparts are denied the same rights."

Deputy Leader of the Lib Dems on Woking Borough Council, Councillor Liam Lyons said:

"We complain that younger generations are not engaging with politics and then we shut them out of the system. The Government needs to think again. Whilst the Tories are continuing to resist expanding the franchise, the Lib Dems will not stop fighting to give young people the voice they deserve."

Councillor Will Forster added:

"The all up elections for Woking Council next place in May will shape the future of the Borough for years to come, young people deserve to be allowed to vote on the future of their area. Whether it is bus services, education, housing or youth centres - local authorities provide key services that 16 and 16 year olds rely on, yet they have no say or vote on them. That needs to change."