Randerson and Burnham mark women's suffrage anniversary with the spirit of 1918.

12.00.00am GMT Wed 8th Feb 2006

On the 90th Anniversary of legislation that enabled women to vote for the first time, two Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Members: Jenny Randerson and Eleanor Burnham will today challenge the Assembly Government to learn the lessons from 1918 in facing a similar injustice today.

In a Welsh Liberal Democrat debate this afternoon, the party will challenge Labour and Plaid to support lowering the voting age to sixteen.

Eleanor Burnham AM said: "90 years ago today, Parliament introduced the right to vote for women. Looking back it is hard to imagine that things were ever different. But today, there is another serious problem in British democracy. People, particularly young people are becoming more and more disengaged with politics, and all parties need to address this. The first thing that can be done is to redress the scandal that 16 year olds can pay tax and join the army but cannot vote."

Jenny Randerson AM added: "I am proud to be a woman in politics, and I am grateful to our foremothers who in some cases gave up their lives for women's suffrage. Today, I think the injustice of not allowing 16 year olds to vote is a mirror image of what was going on in 1918.

"Today's debate will give all parties the chance to support a campaign to give votes to sixteen year olds. I will be particularly interested to see if Plaid Cymru will support our motion. They have previously worked with the Liberal Democrats on this issue. I hope that the trappings of power will not force them to abandon yet another principle."

Notes:

1. The Welsh Liberal Democrats will today call on the Assembly to support the right of sixteen year olds to vote.

2. 90 years ago today, Parliament passed legislation to give women the vote. This was first used in the General Election of December 1918.

3. Plaid Cymru are part of the Votes at 16 Coalition along with the Liberal Democrats but have previously abandoned many policies to vote with Labour.

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