The House of Lords today resumes consideration of the European Union Referendum Bill, which should offer British voters an overdue and welcome say on membership of the EU by the end of 2017. Labour and Liberal Democrat peers – who hold sway in the upper chamber – want to extend the franchise for the referendum, allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to vote. Advocates argue that since people of that age may vote in elections to the Scottish Parliament, they should also be able to vote on Europe. This logic is obviously flawed: just because something happens in Scotland, that does not make it right. The case for votes at 16 is far from clear, and we remain unconvinced.
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