Nicola Sturgeon has been slammed over her calls to lower the age of election voting in Scotland, with an expert describing the move “a typical tactic to stir up nationalism”.
The SNP recently unveiled its latest constitutional plans to reduce the minimum age of people who can vote from 18 at present to 16 for Scottish parliament and local council elections.
Speaking about the topic on GB News’ Dan Wootton Tonight, Ella Robertson McKay, Chair of Conservative Young Women, urged the SNP to leave children out of what she described as “political battles.”
“I think it’s really important to note that this is a typical tactic by the SNP to stir up nationalism amongst young people to get them whipped up about a controversial policy in order to spread nationalism in order to break up the United Kingdom.
Ella Robertson McKay (centre) and Daniel Grainger (right) talking on Dan Wootton Tonight
GB News
Nicola Sturgeon recently reduced the minimum age of election candidacy
Kirsty O'Connor
"And to be honest I think that is absolutely wrong, I think we should be letting kids be kids. This is children whose lives and education have been destroyed by the pandemic.
“The last thing we should be doing is trying to drag them into a political battle in some local association, where we all know it can get pretty heated, we should let kids be kids, let them focus on their education.
“And then when they’ve got the life experience to come back and run for councillors and run for Holyrood at a later date then we should open them with open arms.”
Daniel Grainger, Chair of the Young Conservative Network agreed with Ms McKay’s views.
Mr Grainger said: “I totally agree, I think it’s about creating a political class in Scotland that seems to be skewed.
“You’re going to get very ideological young people who can be easily persuaded.
“I think it’s a proposal that would result in a. push for Scottish independence, it actually lowers the level of scrutiny in Holyrood because you’re not going to have people with the experience to deal with the issues.”