Labour peers have tabled a fresh attempt to get votes for 16 and 17-year-olds at the EU referendum, despite their last amendment being overturned by the House of Commons.
In defiance of MPs, the peers are proposing a new line of legislation that seeks to get eligible teenagers registered with low-cost measures after the government claimed extending the franchise would cost £6m.
The decision means the battle between the House of Lords and the Commons is likely to continue on Monday in a parliamentary process known as ping-pong if the amendment passes.
This happens when legislation the two chambers cannot agree on goes back and forth between them.
Last month, Labour, Liberal Democrat and other peers won a vote on the proposal to lower the voting age for the referendum by 293 to 211 votes, but it was voted down by Conservative MPs in the Commons by 303 to 253 on Tuesday.
The new Lords amendment proposes votes in the EU referendum from the age of 16 in a way that will “focus on registering 15-year-old attainers – those who will attain the age of 16 by the date of the referendum – and utilise low-cost means of communication such as email, in particular making use of school email services”.
The wording of the amendment is an attempt to make sure it is not designated by the Commons Speaker as having financial implications.
The previous Lords amendment was ruled subject to financial privilege because of its cost, meaning peers could not intervene after the Commons rejected the proposal.
Eluned Morgan, the shadow foreign minister in the Lords said: “While we were disappointed with the Commons rejection of our original amendment, we believe there is a real appetite among young people to be involved in the EU referendum debate.
“This is the most informed generation ever. They have been prepared for civic participation through citizenship lessons and they are ready to have their say.
“Whether or not Britain remains in the EU is probably the most important political decision of our time. Sixteen and 17-year-olds should be given a voice.”
The government is growing increasingly frustrated with the Lords, which has defeated it on numerous occasions since May, including the blocking of the Treasury’s plans to cut tax credits.
There are more Labour and Lib Dem peers than Conservative peers, making it harder for the government to pass legislation.
Ministers are now seeking to curb the power of the Lords to block secondary legislation in a new inquiry led by Lord Strathclyde, but peers are still able to use parliamentary procedure to delay and frustrate the government’s aims.
