David Cameron must follow the example of last year’s Scottish independence referendum and allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote on whether to remain part of the EU, the Westminster leader of the SNP has said.
Writing in the Guardian, Angus Robertson says the newly expanded cohort of SNP MPs will seek to amend the EU referendum bill, which is expected to be put forward in the Queen’s speech this Thursday, to ensure that young adults can take part.
“Best practice from the independence referendum must be followed – and that includes extending the vote in an EU referendum to 16- and 17-year-olds across the UK. Scotland’s 56 SNP MPs will certainly seek to amend the legislation to ensure that young people are able to take part in the vote.”
Describing the Conservative mandate north of the border as dubious after the party held only one seat in the general election this month, Robertson adds that the SNP will also seek to amend the legislation to ensure that no constituent part of the UK can be taken out of the EU against its will.
Although Cameron summarily rejected this demand when it was first put forward by the SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon, late last year, Robertson says the SNP will press ahead with its “double lock” proposal.
“We will propose a ‘double majority’ rule – meaning that unless England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each vote to leave the EU, as well as the UK as a whole, Britain would remain a member state.”
Robertson, who used his maiden speech in the House of Commons in 2001 to make the case for lowering the voting age to 16 across the board, writes that one of the great successes of last year’s independence referendum was the extension of the franchise to young adults.
“Scotland sent out the the message loudly and clearly that 16- and 17-year-olds should have the right to shape the country they live in. And as a nation we were not let down. 16- and 17-year-olds turned out in huge numbers to vote, and did not stop there. Young people in Scotland have embraced participative democracy like never before.”
The Smith commission recommendation to give younger people the vote in Scottish parliament elections has been fast-tracked so that it will come into effect in time for next May’s Holyrood vote.
Following Harriet Harman’s announcement this weekend of a reversal of Labour party policy, meaning that it now supports an EU referendum, Robertson restates the SNP’s opposition to the plan but argues that, if the vote is to go ahead, then “David Cameron has a responsibility to help ensure it can be an enriching and open debate”.
“Young people are our future. It is their UK – and their Europe – so they must have their say; 16- and 17-year-olds can pay taxes, get married and join the armed forces, so it is only right and fair that they should also be entitled to vote.”
