MPs have voted against a move to reduce the voting age from 18 to 16 years old.
Liberal Democrat Stephen Williams had wanted to lower the voting age for parliamentary, local government and European parliamentary elections.

But his Representation of the People (Reduction of Voting Age) Bill was voted down by 136 votes to 128, leaving a majority of eight.

The National Union of Students and the Electoral Reform Society have said the move would “invigorate” the youth vote.

They say if people at 16 are able to leave home, get a full-time job, pay taxes, raise children and join the armed forces they should also be able to vote.

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