Should over 70 year olds be banned from voting in referendum to decide the country future

And of course all these eager young voters will be voting REMAIN, and the old codger 70 year olds would have voted LEAVE, unless they have conveniently kicked the bucket in the meantime.

Agree with Oldwoman70 Take the vote from one section of the community and who will be next. Perhaps it will be those who haven't had a university education because they are not intelligent enough to understand all the implications, or even go back a few hundred years and only allow those people who own property to vote. Think it through and anyone would see what a dangerous idea this is

I presume that if people over 70 promised to vote remain they could be allowed to vote.

It's an insult to assume that all those of us who are over 70 voted selfishly.

I have my doubts about the insight of many 16-18 year olds.

No taxation without representation! I'll stop voting when I no longer have to pay tax.

What a wonderful picture you paint grapefruitpip, can’t wait to retire now!

Yes, oldies should wear beige, sensible shoes and have a nap in the afternoons. Not for them the cut and thrust of modern day politics. A nice trip to the garden centre is more suitable.

Just to play devil’s advocate, I do know people who voted selfishly, with little thought to their grandchildren’s future.
But I guess that is their democratic right.

So now it is culturally acceptable to NOT value the wisdom you accumulate as you grow older?
Plus the fact that we love our grandchildren and possibly have great grandchildren who we want to live in a better world.

What is wrong with the young to be so hostile?
Don't they have good grandparents?

I know I worry for my grandchildren. I want them to have a good life....everyone does.
Can't someone point this out to these Young Ones, whoever they are.

No, all competent adults should be allowed to vote. That’s what democracy, imperfect though it is, is all about

Quite Oldwoman70, that was my point too. Who would they disenfranchise next? A very dangerous path, we should not go there.

Taking away anyone's right to vote is a dangerous path. If you start with over 70s what is next? Anyone not in full time employment or not paying a certain amount of tax as they are not making a sufficient contribution therefore shouldn't have a vote? Perhaps the next step could be anyone who is suffering from mental health problems.

And as someone previously said - get a postal vote - if you don't want to go out in the cold!
I signed up for these years ago when I started helping at polling stations, much easier to vote and once signed up you keep getting them unless you asked to change back.

People over 70 might live another 25 years or so. Why shouldn't they vote?

Would we then get rid of all the over 70s in The House of Lords and save the Country a fortune in attendance fee's.

As varian says. I'm glad she said it - I would not have been so polite.

Why should our future be determined by people who don't think our opinion matters one jot?

The wisdom of the old is respected, even revered and sought after, in many societies.

However, I am still happy for young people to have their vote.

But Callistemon, since the referendum there are a lot more young people who could vote if we had a second referendum, whose voices should be heard.

That was to humptydumpty

Yes, so they should have energised themselves, thought about it and voted last time.

I could blame them for the mess we're in.

In Australia, where voting in elections is compulsory and you are fined if you don't.
Once you turn 70, it becomes voluntary.
When you think that in many elections, be it local or general, it is often only about 60% (and often less) that even bother to vote and it often the senior members of society that do vote, if this idea was brought in, think how few people's opinions would decide this country's future ?!!

I think the point is (quite reasonably IMO) that the future direction of the country is going to have a much longer-lasting impact on the younger generations than it is on over-70s - true, surely?

Ken Clarke?

I can think of many more

nonnie very true- and nowadays some 7 to 11 year olds know*everything*!

They can bugger off with their oh so politically correct virtue signalling on the surface but with a deep undercurrent of ignorant prejudice covertly bubbling away. I'm 70 next month and still in full possession of ALL my faculties and that's after a lifetime of hard work, bringing up a family, paying taxes oh and living in a house they reckon was oh so easy to come by...not! Of course, it could all be some diabolical Machiavellian plot to divide and conquer...

Sadly it's seeming less and less likely that this is going to matter as hopes of a second vote recede into the distance..

Ha ha Ooopsminty, very true.

Of course 70+ people should vote. I’m not yet 70 but I still think they should vote. I agree with what Varian says, many older people are making extremely valuable contributions to society. Many are still working. It is indeed dangerous to disenfranchise certain groups from taking an active part in our society, very dangerous indeed.

First they came for the communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a communist.

Then they came for the socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me.

What about Jeremy Corbyn?

Surely if he's too old to vote he is too old to be Labour's leader?