HALTON Council has pledged its support to lower the voting age to 16.

Councillors have backed a campaign by the UK Youth Parliament to allow 16 year olds permission to vote in all elections.

Runcorn schoolboy Ewan Jago, 14, Halton’s member of the Youth Parliament, who raised the issue, said: “It is absolutely brilliant that Halton Council has passed this motion.

“Votes at 16 need to be brought in and this brings the UK Youth Parliament one step closer to making that happen and giving 16 and 17 year olds the say they deserve and the opportunity to shape their own future.”

Cllr Stef Nelson proposed the motion which will see the council calling on the government to back the bid to lower the voting age.

Votes at 16 has been a long standing campaign aim for the Youth Parliament and was one of the top topics in Halton in last year’s UKYP make your mark ballot.

This year’s general election saw a sharp increase in the number of 18-24 year olds voting and a resurgence in interest in all things political amongst young people.

Halton Cllr Tom McInerney, board member for children, young people and families, said: "I believe that young people are underestimated in their ability to make informed decisions. I support this."

Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy pupil Ewan was elected to the UK Youth Parliament in March this year on a platform to campaign for totes at 16 and to work towards improving sports and leisure facilities for young people in Halton.