The government will today try to overturn a Lords’ vote that introduces votes at 16 for the EU Referendum Bill. Under other circumstances, the Conservatives could find this difficult, as there is a group of Tory MPs roughly the same size as the government’s majority who support the principle, but who do not want to rebel and cause trouble on their flagship legislation enabling the referendum they spent the election boasting about. Former minister Damian Green will abstain on the legislation, I understand, as he supports the principle.
The government has invoked financial privilege on this matter, arguing that the change will cost £6 million. Speaker Bercow agrees, which means the Commons can overrule the Lords on this matter. But those MPs in favour of the principle of lowering the voting age are unconvinced of this argument at least: they point out that those eligible to vote in a referendum that will be held by 2017 will be eligible to vote in the general election in 2020, and will therefore need to register to vote anyway.
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