Ross Pepper

No one can fail to remember the Scottish independence referendum last year. The huge turnout of 84.6% dwarfs that of the recent General Election which saw a 66.1% turnout.

There was one significant difference in the electorate for the Scottish referendum in 2014; 16 and 17-year-olds were allowed to vote on the future of their country. Looking ahead to the referendum on our membership, should 16 and 17-year-olds have the right to have their say too?

Looking at the Scottish referendum, the vote for 16 and 17-year-olds was introduced by the Scottish government as a ‘one-off’ vote on the future of Scotland.

The SNP hoped that by lowering the age, they could secure more votes for the Yes to Independence campaign as over two thirds of Scottish teenagers backed independence according to a Lord Ashcroft survey prior to the referendum.

Notably, nearly three quarters of 16 and 17-year-olds who were registered did vote, compared to just over half of all 18 to 24-year-olds (figures from the Electoral Commission).

Whether you agree on whether a vote should take place or not, our vote on our membership of the European Union is very similar in terms of importance to the Scottish referendum.

This is a once-in-a-generation vote which could have profound consequences for our country, and for that reason 16 and 17 year olds should be given the chance to decide alongside the rest of the public.

Labour, the Lib Dems, the SNP and the Greens have called for the voting age to be lowered for the referendum, but on Monday it was revealed by the Conservative government that they were not prepared to let 16 and 17-year-olds have a say at the referendum.

It was also announced the EU nationals are excluded from the vote, even if they have been living here for decades, whilst Australian and New Zealand nationals would be allowed a vote on the issue.

We also need to have a sensible and grown up discussion about Europe. We do not need the myths that have been pedalled to us for years about Europe or soundbite stories. We need lots of unbiased information provided online, in meetings, in the press and from our politicians on which we can build an informed choice.

On a personal note, I would like to highlight one thing which has probably lead us to this referendum: Britain has always shied away from taking a leading role in Europe.

From shunning the offer to joining as a founder member, to not signing up to the social convention and blocking a treaty on budget rules, Britain has not been at the front, leading Europe in a direction which we might have been happier with. We left that to France and Germany and have increasingly found ourselves at odds with the direction of the EU.

This is by no means an excuse to leave. I recognise the EU is far from perfect and it needs urgent reforms, but we need to be a committed member leading from the front to be able to push the reforms through and persuade others to join to us, not sat on the sidelines isolating yourself from the others.

With such an important vote which will have consequences for the future of the country, whichever way you feel about the EU, it is vital that young people’s voices are heard as their generations will feel the consequences the most.

It is vital that 16 and 17-year-olds are given the vote in this referendum and the Lib Dems will be fighting to make this happen.

On the evening before the count, I got a tweet asking me for a song request. After thinking for a few moments, I chose Ellie Goulding’s Anything Could Happen based on the fact no one could predict the outcome of the election. I never thought that what happened ever could.

Before I take a look at what the election brought, I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who voted Lib Dem in both the parliamentary and local elections.

I am sorry I could not deliver a local voice for Lincoln and the hope that the Liberal Democrats offer.

This was supposed to be the election Labour would walk. Facing a government which seemed to be unpopular with lots of the public, they should have emerged as the party forming the next government (either alone or in coalition).

The fact was Labour stood still in areas they should have increased their vote and hurtled backwards in others, especially Scotland. There are many theories as to why this happened; unconvincing leader, poor core message or they moved too far to the political left.

The most common agreed theory is not that of Labour’s doing. The Conservative scare message of ‘vote Labour or UKIP – end up with the SNP’ seemed to hit home and turn many floating voters at the last moment. This was the overriding message of the last part of the campaign and I think secured the Conservative vote enough to propel them back to Downing Street with a majority. Liberal Democrats also fared badly from this message, losing all but 8 seats of the 57 held previously.

Years of experience from veterans like Simon Hughes and Vince Cable, and new stars like Lynne Featherstone and Jo Swinson disappeared. Our country is worse off for not having their voices in parliament.

Locally, I knew it would be a tough campaign. Having only four months as a candidate meant I was way behind my main rivals, and I knew that for them to win they would have to squeeze my vote. It reflected the result which was repeated nationally. Nick Clegg, who has led the party since 2007, announced his resignation on Friday lunchtime leaving the party on the hunt for a new leader who will be in place by July.

There is one thing I know for certain; Liberal Democrats never give up. The team in Lincoln is already geared up ready to start the push for next year’s local elections and for the parliamentary election in 2020.

There is a great team of enthusiastic individuals who are ready for the fight back and that team is growing already. Since the close of polls on Thursday, our membership locally has grown by 35% – a monumental figure. This is also reflected nationally with over 7,000 new members (at the time of writing) coming to help the Lib Dems in the fight.

The fight we face is a terrifying prospect – a Conservative only government wielding the axe on benefits, the removal of the Human Rights Act, a repeal of the Hunting Bill, the introduction of the Snoopers’ Charter, a reduction of Workers’ Rights and ever deeper cuts for no reason than ideology. All these things were stopped by the Lib Dems whilst in coalition.

The reason people are flocking to join the Lib Dems is that they are realising what a brake we as a party have been to curb the majority of the Conservatives’ extreme policies, and that without the moderating influence of the Lib Dems, the Conservatives are reverting to type. The worrying thing with the voting system we have is that, despite having a mandate in terms of number of seats, the Conservatives do not have a mandate in terms of votes cast.

Only 37% of the population wanted to see a Conservative government in power. That is not a mandate in a modern democracy, and I am sure the issue of voting reform will be highlighted time and time again – but falling on deaf Tory ears.

At a time where our freedom, liberty and opportunity are under threat, people are realising that we need the values and principles of liberalism and a strong liberal voice in the country. They are joining to ensure our voice is still heard and to lead the fight back.

Liberals have been in darker places before and the party has built itself up with grit and determination to fight back. I will continue over the next five years to fight these measures that the Conservatives want to bring in just like my colleagues did from within the coalition, and I will make sure a liberal voice is always heard in Lincoln.