Cross party children and young people’s group say votes at 16 are a must

A coalition of children and young people’s groups have called for the Scottish Parliament to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote at all future elections.

The Cross Party Working Group on Children and Young People (CPG) made the call in its submission to the Smith Commission.

The group is co-convened by Marco Biagi MSP, Kezia Dugdale MSP and Alison Johnstone MSP but its membership includes most major children and young people’s charities in Scotland as well as smaller community groups.

The CPG is calling for a national framework to be set up to empower teachers, youth workers, or care workers with confidence and materials to discuss politics within the formal and informal education sector.

It said said votes at 16 should no longer be an aspiration for young people, but an achievable entitlement following young people’s involvement in the referendum.

Young people need to be able to make the connection between their own lives and politics, and they need to do this on their own terms and in their own time

Terri Smith MSYP, vice-chair of Scottish Youth Parliament: “Young people need to be able to make the connection between their own lives and politics, and they need to do this on their own terms and in their own time.

“For me it was about the price of the bus tickets and the price of chocolate, and then I realised it was about my mum and our family.”

The CPG is also calling for targeted support for the most excluded, disengaged, or disadvantaged, including young offenders, young carers, young people excluded from school, and young people with disabilities.

In a separate response to the commission, Jackie Brock, chief executive of Children in Scotland, said she fully supported the call for a permanent extension of the voting franchise.

Her seven-page response also considered what taxation, welfare, employment or other powers Scotland would need in order to achieve a better childcare system.

On the subject of taxation, Brock said “the Scottish Parliament and Government must be vested with powers sufficient to raise an adequate level of funds… full powers to raise and organise taxation should be devolved.”

On the issue of welfare, benefits and employment, she argued that these, too, should be devolved, adding: “Without control over all benefits and transfers, it is much more difficult to reach targets in respect of reducing child poverty.”

Brock also called on additional powers for legislation surrounding drug use, gambling, broadcasting and media, migration and road traffic regulation.