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Electoral Commission hands Government a boost in bid to block votes for 16 year olds

The body has said that plans to extend the vote to young people for the EU referendum are not good enough and that it cannot support proposals put forward by Labour and the Lib Dems

Voter placing a ballot paper in a ballot box
The Government hopes to block plans to give 16 year olds the vote Credit: Photo: PA

The Electoral Commission has backed Conservative plans to block votes for 16 and 17 year olds in the European referendum, claiming the proposals put forward by Labour and the Liberal Democrats are not good enough.

The powerful body has handed the Government a boost in the House of Lords ahead of a vote on Monday by publishing guidance stating some young voters could miss out if plans to extend the franchise were to go ahead.

The opposition parties want to give young people the chance to vote on whether the UK should remain in the EU or leave, but Ministers are opposed to the plans.

David Cameron at 10 Downing Street, 21/09/2015
David Cameron hopes to block plans to extend the vote

The Lords will vote on the issue on Monday but Tory sources expect the Government will lose because of Labour and Lib Dem support, forcing MPs to debate the plans in the Commons later this week in a process known as ping pong.

A senior Conservative peer said: “The House of Commons have voted against extending the franchise five times in recent months, at the last count with a majority of 50.

"With even the Electoral Commission now slamming their shoddy amendment, it is time for the Labour and Lib Dem front benches to stop using their numbers in the Lords to pursue their manifestos and instead accept the settled view of the democratically elected Chamber."

Young voters leave a polling station in Charlotte Square, Edinburgh
Young people can't currently vote until they are 18

A Government source told the Telegraph that the Electoral Commission guidance, which states clearly that the group does not support the plans, will help Ministers convince some cross-bench Lords to work with the Conservatives instead.

Ministers hope to win a second vote in the House of Lords on Wednesday.

The source added: “Andrew Lansley has changed his mind and will now make speeches in favour of the Commons position against votes for 16 and 17 year olds.

Andrew Lansley, a Tory Cabinet minister, is facing claims that he mislead Parliament after doubts were cast on his denial that ministers attempted to influence a report by MPs into the Universal Credit fiasco
Andrew Lansley is the former health secretary

“That just shows the feeling on this issue given he voted for the changes in the first instance. He will say that the Lords should now give way to the elected chamber.

“The role of second chamber is to scrutinise but to give when decision is clear, and it is clear that the Commons does not back this.”