Just a quick note for those politicians claiming that if soldiers are being asked to lay their life on the line at age 16 they should be able to vote.
Fact Check: Personnel may join under the age of 18 with parental consent but it is not policy to allow them to deploy on operations until they are 18
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldhansrd/text/80219w0001.htm
still, no taxation without representation
That might be so Alex but saying 16 year old’s are putting their lives on the line is rather misleading don’t you think
I would not support giving the majority of 16 year olds a vote as frankly most of them have no idea about politics and policies as well as no real interest in voting. Sure there are smart educated 16 year olds out there who won’t just put the X in the box for whomever their parents and family traditionally vote for but they are a tiny minority amongst 16-18 year olds.
As for 16 year olds in the military from what I understand most ‘join up’ but then spend the next few years training or going somewhere like Welbeck college or something like that to extend their education. It’s not like they are being sent to Afghanistan within a few months after joining up and it’s voluntary after all and the parents have to support the application of the person wanting to join the armed forces. The current policy of not sending anyone under the age of 18 outside of the UK where harm may come to them should stay in place maybe even toughened up a bit just in case.