Co-operative Group backs Votes at 16

February 16 2010

The Co-operative Group has joined the Votes at 16 coalition and called for the voting age to be lowered.

The Group said that lowering the age to 16 would boost democratic and Parliamentary renewal in the UK and energise young people to better engage in society.

Peter Marks, the Group’s Chief Executive, said: “In the past two years over 550,000 young people have voted in UK Youth Parliament elections and a quick glance at any social media website demonstrates that our young people are not short of opinions.”

The Group is seeking cross-party support for the move which would enable all those aged 16 and over to participate in all types of elections, and is urging the major parties to include it in their manifestos.