by Plaid Ifanc Preseli and Pembrokeshire member Llyr Williams
A petition is on Plaid Cymru’s website now calling for 16 & 17 year olds to have the right to vote.
The party and it’s youth branch have been strong supporters of this for quite some time.
When I was at school, politics was barely discussed, we were never taught anything about politics, political parties, how to vote, what an autumn statement was, how elections work. We were never taught how people stand. In fact, the only parliament I knew about was the EU parliament, as we went there on a languages department trip to Belgium as guests of Jill Evans MEP.
Our political disinterest changed, with the debate surrounding tuition fees. When the Conservatives announced their plans to allow Universities to charge tuition fees of up to £9000 a year from the £3500 (approx) they were before hand, a wave of anger and political activism swept my generation. None of us could vote, we were powerless to stop these people in London launching us into years of debt if we dared go to university, whilst at the same time realising that a lot of jobs these days ask if you have a degree.
Yet we had no representation. There were no MPs at the time anywhere near our age, there was 1 AM, none of us knew a county councillor close to our age either. The young person’s voice didn’t exist in our parliaments, and that problem is still there today.
When Mhairi Black stood against a Scottish Labour heavyweight, the media interest was about her age, about this “kid” that was standing against a heavyweight. The debate at the time, was less focussed on her politics, more on her age. Yet since being elected, she stands up for more causes than most MPs twice her age.
In light of such poor representation even in scenarios that affect young people and their future, votes at 16 gives them the power to make a difference within our democracy. Yet, during many debates on the matter a question of “maturity” is asked. Young people are often referred to as “kids”.
Yet, at 16 you can give full consent to medical treatment, leave school and enter work you pay income tax, national insurance, you can become the director of a company, get married and even join the armed forces. If you’re mature enough to do all of these at 16, why should you be denied the vote?
It’s absurd that 16 year olds could pay income tax, yet have no say in how those taxes can be spent.
Allowing votes at 16, would give more young people a voice, open politics up to them. They are mature enough, it’s time to include not alienate them.
Sign the petition at http://www.plaid2016.wales/vote16
