A DUP cllr has called a UK move to lower the voting age as targeting children in political campaigns.
The DUP has stood behind a UN law on protecting children to reject a council proposal to assist Stormont on lowering the voting age. The UK government announced its plans in July to lower the voting age to 16 by the time of the next general election in line with Scotland and Wales However, the DUP has criticised the Westminster move at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) with its own position potentially making Northern Ireland separate from the rest of the UK.
READ MORE: NI mum battling cancer died due to travelling to London for treatment, councillors told.
READ MORE: DUP tells CEO to take Irish language concerns ‘seriously’ to end equality boycott.
Bringing forward the motion, Rowallane SDLP rep, Terry Andrews said: “NMDDC welcomes the announcement that the voting age is to be reduced from 18 to 16 ahead of the next Council and Assembly elections. “Young people deserve a say in who represents them and the future of this island. This council calls on the UK government to work with Stormont to ensure the legislation is implemented successfully.” Lowering the voting age to 16 across the UK would be considered the biggest change to the electorate since it was reduced from 21 to 18 in 1969. The minimum voting age is already 16 for local council elections in Scotland and Wales, and elections to the Senedd and Scottish parliament. For other elections, including to the House of Commons, local elections in England and all elections in Northern Ireland, the age is currently set at 18. Rowallane DUP cllr, Callum Bowsie responded: “I am not sure what this motion is meant to achieve as this council has a clear position on it and the DUP are against it, you now get what you want and just ask for it now to be done successfully. “Throughout, the globe voting is generally reserved for adults at 18, an internationally recognised age for adulthood. The UN Convention for Rights of the Child defines a child as human beings below the age of 18 and we would be against children being the target of political campaigns…and so we will be voting against this.” According to UNICEF website, the UN convention is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world. All UN member states except for the United States have ratified the convention with it coming into force in the UK in 1992. Children’s rights are enshrined in the convention including an article to know their rights. If Northern Ireland was not to lower the voting age to 16 for all its elections, then those children could potentially be considered as being treated differently to other 16 years olds in the UK. A vote at NMDDC approved the motion with 27 for and five against.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
#DUP #quotes #convention #reject #Stormonts #move #lowering #voting #age
