THE MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden has appealed for the voting age to be dropped to 16.

Speaking in the House of Commons on the proposal to reduce the voting age, Labour's Graham Jones said: “We are in danger of marginalising young people.

“And we have to give considerable thought to that. We do not want to send out the wrong message to them.

“When I look around at young people, I see that they are growing up faster, certainly in my area.

“We have a more diverse economy and young people have different career prospects: they are more interested in the future than they ever have been”.

Following his speech to the House he said: “The extension of votes to 16-year-olds is something that I passionately believe in.

“MPs have claimed that young people would rather be on the X-Box than putting an X in the box but I’m not sure I agree.”