Well, the conference is as a result of our national conversation over the last six months,
asking young people in Wales whether they thought the voting age should be lowered to
16. We had 10,300 responses – huge numbers – and this conference is the result of that.
Over 53 per cent said they would like to be able to vote, 29 per cent said ‘no’, and
19 per cent said they weren’t sure. But, what was interesting in the results was over
70 per cent said they needed more information, more education in schools, so that is one
avenue that we will definitely be pursuing. But, in the Assembly here this morning, there’s
a buzz with all these young people. Absolutely fantastic.
So, the question was asked to our Bwrdd Syr Ifanc, which is the youth council for the
Urdd, in a meeting around December, if we wanted the vote or not. We thought it was
very positive that we we’re asked our opinion if we wanted it or not, and the fact that
our voice came into play and that they’re taking more attention and paying more attention
to young people and our voices, and it was very positive to see everybody’s reaction
to it. It’s very important that we have our voice heard here and that our voice plays
the largest part in consultations, because if we don’t want it there’s no point giving
it to us. The fact that there’s so many young people, and that it’s so positive,
and that the Assembly wants to hear from us and they’re taking into play what we say
is very important and there’s a very positive atmosphere around it.
The conference is great, it’s just a way we can get young people’s opinions heard
on the issue of votes at 16 and I think that’s the most important part. It’s fundamental
that young people are involved in the whole process, whether or not they should have the
right to vote. It’s common sense, really, that they should be involved in something
that includes and is about them. So, it’s a good opportunity for voices to be heard
by important people. Personally, I think it should be, however not until political education
is improved within schools and until it’s made compulsory across the board, because
I think there’s a real shortage of quality political education that’s compulsory in
all schools.