SWINDONIANS have given a lukewarm response to the idea of lowering the voting age to 16.

The Government is considering the plan as a way of getting young people more involved in politics.

This week the Lord Chancellor raised the prospect of changing the law in a speech on Government plans for constitutional reform.

"We must seek other ways of connecting with young people," he said and asked was it right people could get married but not vote.

Also people can join the Army at 16, although not take part in combat until they are 18.

The Government is waiting for a report by the Electoral Commission before making any formal proposals.

But when people in Swindon were asked their views a clear majority said they opposed extending voting rights.

Laura Crook, 16, and Anna Knox, 15, both students from Highworth, said teenagers their age did not know enough about politics to deserve the vote.

"Sixteen-year-olds aren't mature enough, and voting is too important to give to teenagers who don't know anything about it," said Laura.

Anna said: "The majority of 16-year-olds do not know enough about the subject, they wouldn't know the first thing about who to vote for.

"Parliament needs to raise everyone's awareness towards the election process, not only teenagers.

"Even if they raise teenagers' awareness on the subject, they will still have uninterested adults over 18."

Andrew Dixon, a 15-year-old student living in Shrivenham, said 16-year-olds were not responsible enough to get the vote.

"They have other things on their minds, they do not have time to think about complicated issues that they don't really understand," he said.

"I would only vote for something that would benefit myself," he added.

Kate Gumm, 15, a student from Swindon, said: "Even if I were to be given the vote, I wouldn't really want to use it because I don't believe I'm educated enough about everything I would need to know to really vote properly."

She said Parliament could not assume giving 16-year-olds the vote would increase interest in politics.

"They need to make voting compulsory for every adult over 18," she suggested.

"This would ensure that everyone votes, which would in turn force people to educate themselves on who they are voting for."

Sixty-year-old Ted Harlow, an usher at Swindon Magistrates Court, strongly disagreed with allowing 16-year-olds the right to vote.

"They are only beginning to sort out their own lives, they are certainly not capable of making political decisions," he said.

But Richard Long, 15, a student living in Faringdon, said 16-year-olds were mature enough to cast a ballot.

"I think I am mature enough to vote, but I need to be made aware of what my options are," he said.

He admitted if he was given the vote now he would probably vote for whoever his parents voted for, and said teenagers should be better educated about politics as well as receiving the vote.

The Government has introduced citizenship studies into the National Curriculum in an attempt to boost interest among people of school age.

But MPs are worried that apathy and disillusionment is undermining their authority which, they say, could be bad for the future of democracy in the UK.

One of those who would support a move to let 16-year-olds vote in elections is Julia Drown, the Labour MP for South Swindon.

"I want to see more young people interested and involved in politics," she said. "Voting at 16 could encourage more people to get involved."

Mrs Drown who, at the age of 16, was involved in anti-racism and animal welfare issues, said it was wrong 16-year-olds were allowed to get married.

"Many political decisions we take are about changes for the future," she said.

"Given that young people are going to be there we should get their input into these decisions as soon as possible."

Andy Tate