7. Debate on the General Principles of the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Bill

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:28 pm on 10 July 2019.

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Photo of Darren Millar Darren Millar Conservative 5:28, 10 July 2019

I just want to speak very briefly about this Bill. I rise with a heavy heart to say that I'll be voting against the general principles today, not because I don't agree with most of what's in this Bill, as I've had many conversations with the Llywydd in the past, but because of this principle of extending the franchise to younger voters aged 16 and 17. And it's not because—[Interruption.] Well, that's not the case, and it's quite an assumption for you to draw on. I'm happy to take an intervention if you want to make one. But we know that having the opportunity to vote is one of the most important privileges in our society and the vote has provided men and women with real power, giving them the ability to topple governments, to turf out local councillors and politicians, to establish new parliaments, and decide our fortunes, of course, with regard to EU membership. And the way it's always worked in our democracy is that adults have the right to vote and children don't, and as has already been said, there's been a common accepted age of responsibility for most things, and that has been at the age of 18. Of course, when I was younger, even when I was 18, I wasn't able to vote—stand for elections, rather—[Interruption.]—because you have to be 21 to be able to stand for election, even though I was able to vote at 18. [Interruption.] I'll happily take an intervention.