THE York Central MP joined more than 30 MPs to take part in a drop-in photocall session at Parliament to show support for a Private Members' Bill to lower the voting age to 16.

Rachael Maskell was giving her backing to Fair.Vote, a campaign which aims to make 16 the voting age across the UK.

Launched by the Association of Colleges (AoC) and National Union for Students (NUS), it looks to bring together individuals and organisations from across the UK and politicians of all parties. Those behind the campaign say it aims to ensure that democracy is open and fair.

The Bill is due to have its second reading in the House of Commons next week on Friday, May 11 and has received cross-party support from Nicky Morgan MP and Norman Lamb MP.

Scotland already has a voting age of 16, and Wales is potentially about to follow.

Dr Alison Birkinshaw, principal of York College and president of the AoC, said: “We are pleased to see Rachael Maskell supporting the Fair.Vote campaign.

"It’s very important to engage young people in the democratic process and to ensure they understand any decisions made now could impact on their communities and families over the next decades.”

Ms Maskell said: “Young people are very engaged in the issues that are impacting on our community, nation and world, and as our democracy is about their future, as much as anyone else, it is absolutely right that they have a say in their future, and that starts at the ballot box.

"I was pleased to represent young people in York at the Fair.Vote campaign, and will be present in Parliament for the vote on May 11 for this crucial Bill.”

David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said: “Lowering the voting age to 16 and 17-year-olds is something that should be welcomed by politicians from across the political spectrum given the rise in young people’s participation in politics.

"With young people’s turnout astonishingly rising in the last General Election, it’s time to think boldly about enhancing Britain’s democracy and the future of our country.”

“In this country you can marry at 16, you can pay taxes at 16, so what’s stopping you from having the right to vote?”