Agenda item

EU Referendum Franchise (continued)

Minutes:

AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED –

 

Extending votes in all elections and referendums to 16 and 17 year olds

 

This Council notes that

 

·         A European Referendum Bill was presented to Parliament on 28th May 2015 and that the Committee Stage in the House of Commons was held on 16th and 18th June 2015 to further debate this draft legislation

·         The Bill seeks to ‘make provision for the holding of a referendum in the United Kingdom and Gibraltar on whether the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union’ no later than 31st December 2017

·         The proposed franchise for the referendum would currently limit voters to those eligible to vote in Parliamentary Elections, Peers, and those eligible to vote in Gibraltar European Parliamentary Elections

·         The referendum on Scottish Independence which was held on 18th September 2014 allowed nearly all residents over the age of 16 the opportunity to vote on the future of Scotland, and attracted a turnout of 84.59%

·         Figures based on the 2011 Census show that there are will now be 6,673 residents in Stockport who are either aged 16 or 17

 

This Council believes that

 

·         A referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union will be very significant and could have a profound impact upon the future lives of 16 and 17 year olds in Stockport

·         Young people aged 16 and 17 have many of the same rights as those who are 18 and over, and that as a result they should have an equal say in a future referendum on membership of the European Union

·         All of the arguments to allow 16 and 17 year olds to participate in a future referendum on membership of the European Union equally apply to all other elections, including those for Local Authorities, Members of Parliament and other referendums.

 

This Council resolves

 

·         To ask the Chief Executive to write to all Stockport MPs to urge them to support votes for 16 and 17 year olds in all elections and referendums, including any EU referendum.

 

AMENDMENT CARRIED

 

FURTHER AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council notes that

 

·         A European Referendum Bill was presented to Parliament on 28th May 2015 and that the Committee Stage in the House of Commons was held on 16th and 18th June 2015 to further debate this draft legislation.

·         The Bill seeks to ‘make provision for the holding of a referendum in the United Kingdom and Gibraltar on whether the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union’ no later than 31st December 2017.

·         The proposed franchise for the referendum would currently limit voters to those eligible to vote in Parliamentary Elections, Peers, and those eligible to vote in Gibraltar European Parliamentary Elections.

 

This Council believes that

 

·         A referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union will be very significant and could have a profound impact upon the future lives of young people in Stockport.

·         Young people should be supported to engage with the democratic system as they approach the legal voting age of 18.

 

This Council therefore resolves to support the valuable work of Stockport Youth Partnership in democratic engagement as they move towards ensuring Stockport has representation on the UK Youth Parliament.

 

For the amendment 15, against 43, abstentions 1.

 

AMENDMENT NOT CARRIED

 

The original amendment was then put as the substantive motion and it was

 

RESOLVED –

 

Extending votes in all elections and referendums to 16 and 17 year olds

 

This Council notes that

 

·         A European Referendum Bill was presented to Parliament on 28th May 2015 and that the Committee Stage in the House of Commons was held on 16th and 18th June 2015 to further debate this draft legislation

·         The Bill seeks to ‘make provision for the holding of a referendum in the United Kingdom and Gibraltar on whether the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union’ no later than 31st December 2017

·         The proposed franchise for the referendum would currently limit voters to those eligible to vote in Parliamentary Elections, Peers, and those eligible to vote in Gibraltar European Parliamentary Elections

·         The referendum on Scottish Independence which was held on 18th September 2014 allowed nearly all residents over the age of 16 the opportunity to vote on the future of Scotland, and attracted a turnout of 84.59%

·         Figures based on the 2011 Census show that there are will now be 6,673 residents in Stockport who are either aged 16 or 17

 

This Council believes that

 

·         A referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union will be very significant and could have a profound impact upon the future lives of 16 and 17 year olds in Stockport

·         Young people aged 16 and 17 have many of the same rights as those who are 18 and over, and that as a result they should have an equal say in a future referendum on membership of the European Union

·         All of the arguments to allow 16 and 17 year olds to participate in a future referendum on membership of the European Union equally apply to all other elections, including those for Local Authorities, Members of Parliament and other referendums.

 

This Council resolves

 

·         To ask the Chief Executive to write to all Stockport MPs to urge them to support votes for 16 and 17 year olds in all elections and referendums, including any EU referendum.

Supporting documents: