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'Vote at 16' move debated by SNP 'Vote at 16' move backed by SNP
(about 5 hours later)
Proposals to lower the voting age to 16 are due to be debated at the Scottish National Party conference in Aviemore. Proposals to lower the voting age to 16 have been unanimously backed at the SNP annual conference.
A resolution argues that young people who can already get married or join the armed forces should be able to take part in local government elections. The move has carried strong support among party members, although powers to alter the age, currently set at 18, are reserved to Westminster.
The BBC's Scotland correspondent Colin Blane said it carries strong support among the party, which took power in Scotland's devolved Parliament in May. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has already called for a debate on whether 16-year-olds should have a vote.
But the power to alter the voting age, currently 18, is reserved for London. But the conference, the SNP's first since its election win, called for voting powers to be handed to Holyrood.
Delegates in Aviemore also unanimously backed a resolution welcoming the SNP administration's "national conversation" white paper on the country's constitutional future.
CONFERENCE AGENDA, DAY TWO 1000 BST - Conference resumes1030 - Resolutions on independence and voting at 161130 - Donaldson Lecture, Rob Brown and Stephen Maxwell1215 - President's Prize1400 - Topical and emergency resolutions1430 - Resolutions on writers¿ museum, broadcasting, terror laws, Scottish civil service, council bylaws to ban air guns and sexual offences against children1510 - Speech by Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon1540 - ResolutionsCONFERENCE AGENDA, DAY TWO 1000 BST - Conference resumes1030 - Resolutions on independence and voting at 161130 - Donaldson Lecture, Rob Brown and Stephen Maxwell1215 - President's Prize1400 - Topical and emergency resolutions1430 - Resolutions on writers¿ museum, broadcasting, terror laws, Scottish civil service, council bylaws to ban air guns and sexual offences against children1510 - Speech by Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon1540 - Resolutions
In July Prime Minister Gordon Brown called for a debate on whether 16-year-olds should be able to take part in elections when he unveiled a consultation exercise on a range of proposed constitutional reforms. The conference will also debate proposals to give health workers greater protection from attacks.
The conference is the SNP's first since it won the Scottish election. It will also consider motions on setting up a Scottish civil service and devolving powers over broadcasting to the Scottish Parliament.
It is also scheduled to debate the party's white paper for independence, as well as proposals to give health workers greater protection from attacks. The party will also debate giving councils powers to restrict the ownership of airguns.
Delegates will also consider motions to establish a Scottish civil service, and for local authorities to be given the power to restrict the ownership of airguns.