Daniel Zeichner, Labour MP for Cambridge will today (Friday 3rd November) head to Westminster and support a debate that calls for lowering the voting ages to 16. The change, would extend the franchise by 1.5 million people. 

Today’s debate has been brought forward by a Private Member’s Bill by Labour MP Jim McMahon and will not only gain support from Labour MPs, but also Liberal Democrats, the Greens, SNP and Plaid Cymru giving it cross-party dimensions. 

Daniel is a long standing supporter of the campaign, tabling a proposal in 2000 to Labour’s National Policy Forum, the main policy making body of the Labour Party, and after went on to bring forward an amendment at that year’s Labour Party Conference. 

Daniel says, “Today’s debate is incredibly important in putting pressure on the Government to make them realise that young people do care about politics. I have long supported lowering the voting age to 16 as I feel that the status quo is not consistent with the fact that 16 year olds could get married, have a child and pay taxes. It is simple, no taxation without representation.

I have visited plenty of schools in Cambridge am always impressed with the questions being asked by 16 & 17 year olds and it is clear that they take a huge interest in what is going on in our Parliament.

This is about democracy and with all the challenges facing young people, such as the cost of education, housing and the future relationship with Europe after Brexit, it is only right that they get to have their say in how the future is shaped.”

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