Children in Scotland could stand for parliament and hold political office, under plans unveiled by Nicola Sturgeon’s government to widen democratic “participation”.
The Scottish Government has published proposals to reduce the minimum age of candidates for Holyrood elections from 18 to 16, which is believed to be the lowest age for standing in a national legislature in the world.
Asylum seekers could also be allowed to stand for the Scottish Parliament under the plans, which aim to fulfill a pledge in the SNP-Green coalition agreement to “encourage the active participation in elections of under-represented groups”.
But the controversial move marks a huge departure from democratic norms in the Western world, with the Scottish government admitting that 18 is the minimum age for elections to the European Parliament in every EU member state.
“Potential Welfare Concerns”
An international study published in 2018 examining the participation of young people in national parliaments says that the lowest age for applying anywhere in the world is 17.
A Scottish Government consultation acknowledged there were “potential welfare concerns” with lowering the age to 16, such as exposing children to “intimidation” and “hate speech” and abuse during the campaign.
This has increased the likelihood that youngsters will have to live alone in an Edinburgh hotel during the week, away from their families, if their home is out of commuting distance to Holyrood Parliament.
With Parliament’s working week extended from 2.30pm on Monday to 12.30pm on Friday, the consultation also warned that being elected as an MSP could harm a child’s education, including their ability to attend exams.
A series of concerns were also raised about allowing asylum seekers to stand as an MSP or councillor, a move enthusiastically supported by Ms Sturgeon’s Green coalition partners.
The consultation warned they would be forced to resign if their permission to stay in the UK expired, leading to a costly by-election.
It also says they will have to meet any other condition attached to their work permit or study visa, such as keeping a job or completing a course. It added that they may “struggle to balance these obligations with those arising from being elected representatives”.
Lowering the age would be ‘controversial’
The right to vote was extended to 16 and 17-year-olds in Scotland for the 2014 independence referendum, and then for the 2016 Scottish Parliament and local government elections.
This is believed to benefit the SNP and the pro-independence Greens, with polls showing younger voters overwhelmingly support leaving the UK.
But candidates must be over 18 to stand for Holyrood, Westminster or local authority elections. In all member states of the European Union, the minimum age for election to the Brussels Parliament varies from 18 to 25 years.
Writing in his introduction to the consultation, George Adam, the SNP’s parliamentary business minister, admitted that lowering the age to 16 would be “controversial”.
He said: “A robust electoral system is fundamental to Scotland’s success as an inclusive and vibrant democracy that makes everyone feel included and empowered.
“It is important that as many people as possible in our society feel that they have an effective and independent means of holding government to account and also feel encouraged to take an active interest in politics and civic life.”
Mark Ruskell, local democracy spokesman for the Scottish Greens, said: “The starting point should be that if you can vote in our elections, you should be able to stand in them.”
But the consultation also raised a number of administrative issues with the plans, including “data protection issues” for applicants under the age of 18.
It said electoral registration officers had expressed concern that they would “have difficulty ensuring that asylum seeker entries are accurate and up to date, particularly where an asylum claim has been unsuccessful”.
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