BURY North MP David Chaytor has given his mark of approval for the voting age to be lowered to 16.

He has welcomed the Prime Minister's strongest signal yet that he is sympathetic to a change in the laws, which currently prevents anyone under the age of 18 going to the polls.

Mr Chaytor said: "This is another important stage in the ongoing campaign to strengthen our democracy. The vast majority of 16-year-olds work part-time, a significant minority work full-time.

"There is a great inconsistency about the age at which a person can vote for the first time, which is 18, compared with the fact that at 16 young people can leave school, work full-time, pay taxes, leave home, join the Armed Forces, get married and receive social security benefits."

'Every 16-year-old I have ever met has a strong interest in the world around them. They are entitled to have their voice heard. I think we now need to step up the public debate about votes at 16 so that everyone is clear about the issues involved.'

Mr Chaytor observed that not letting 16 and 17-year-olds express their political views through the ballot box gives the impression that young people's views are not valid.

He said he also felt that this can contribute to the disengagement that many young people feel towards the political process and structures.