HYNDBURN MP Graham Jones has vowed to fight for teens under 18 to be able to vote on the UK's EU membership.
The Labour man, who held onto his seat at last month's general election, spoke out after the government shot down his party's efforts to lower the referendum voting age from 18 to 16.
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He said: "If 16 and 17 year olds can join the armed the forces, get married, get a job and pay taxes we should be able to trust them to participate in a democratic decision that will determine their future as much as it will ours.
"The Tories’ stance on this is astonishing. They are denying young people the opportunity to have their say on an outcome that, whichever way it goes, will have a tremendous effect on their lives."
He continued: "We know what’s at stake here for young people. Their options for living, working, travelling and studying abroad.
"The Tories are trying to push this issue into the long grass. But they cannot ignore our mounting pressure for much longer.
"The Labour Party will continue to fight for the rights of 16 and 17 year olds at every opportunity we get."
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