Jeremy Paxman says 'no votes for pensioners'

It was done to stir it, obviously, and to keep himself in the limelight.

If it were possible to say to any demographic group, "You voted the wrong way, so you can't vote any more," then over time ALL voters would be disenfranchised by successive waves of governments in power. Dictators and totalitarian regimes would love that. Once in, they could make sure they were never voted out again.

There is much talk of democracy, just as long as everyone votes the right way.

It's impossible for other newspapers to have different statistics on age, surely.

Yes- Eloethan- I agree totally. I was very upset to hear our youngest had not voted, like your daughter.

Paxman is stirring à la Paxman- and it certainly worked. We are in our late 60s and early 70s- and voted firmla remain- but we know so many who voted 'leave' for all sorts of reasons which did not stand scrutiny, I'm afraid.

At the end of the day, if I had to choose- banning over 75s from voting, or giving the vote to 16 years olds (it is after all their future, and not the over 75s, statistically...) - then I'd give it to 16 year olds.

Just a thought - Emmeline Pankhurst must have been in her 60s when she got her first vote.

I daresay the DM will find some statistics to suit whatever headlines it is printing.

I was thinking about that this morning djen - did Paxman choose this week deliberately when he said that a large proportion of the population should be disenfranchised?
I doubt that the irony has passed him by.

Let us hope we never have to choose jura2.
Although some of us could be better off -
'no taxation without representation' could be our slogan when we head for revolution.

Maybe the 3000 EU residents should stop paying UK taxes unless they are given a vote. Government wants to take away the right to vote in local elections from them. That's the only one they are allowed to vote in at the moment.

Sorry, 3 million, isn't it?

can I just repeat that WE did not vote leave ..ENGLAND or a small proportion of it voted leave and we are being dragged out against our will .Scotland voted remain ..62% of us .So for the Gran further up who hadn't considered the Irish problem it would appear that little englanders didn't consider ANYONE but themselves and simply because they are the largest country in the "union" they can bully the rest of us .Quite frankly its disgusting that we dont get any say in whats being discussed or decided ..our "scottish secretary of state" the clown Mundell has done a vanishing act and wont comment on the whole sorry state of affairs .The folk in the borders who voted for him must be thrilled at how he 's performing ....not

I almost suggested that perhaps Paxman might trust SCOTTISH over 65s to vote correctly, and alow them to keep their franchise while only depriving English ones. However, I decided that could have repercussions against a different demographic (Old Scottish farts) who already face enough problems.

Paddyann whether you like it or not Scotland is part of the UK, it had the chance to leave the union and chose not to. The referendum was a vote for the UK collectively, not one particular part of it. How is it that it is only the people of England that are sneered at for being ' Little Englanders' but the three other countries making up the UK are applauded for their patriotism and are proud to be recognised as such, particularly the Scots

It is outrageous that the 3 million citizens of other EU countries living in the UK (some of them for most of their lives) were not allowed to vote in the EU referendum, in spite of paying their taxes all these years. These people were the most affected by the brexit threat.

Nor are they permitted a vote in our General Elections.

What happened to "no taxation without representation"?

Paddyann whether you like it or not Scotland is part of the UK, it had the chance to leave the union and chose not to.

As I understand it one of the key factors in that choice was that if Scotland were to leave the UK they would also no longer be part of the EU. I can completely understand why Scots should feel betrayed by, and resentful of, the English (and Welsh) for apparently tossing away something which they, the Scots, felt to be important.

Leavers, having made their choice in many instances on 'emotional' grounds should not be surprised that the Scots can be a bit emotional about the Leave vote which goes against their clearly expressed wishes. What amounts to telling them 'hard luck' 'suck it up' is hardly going to reconcile them to the decision.

Well Nigglynellie that would be becaus ethe "little englanders" are looking backwards to a country that only exists in their heads .The peopel north of the border remember what life was really like and want to move forward with more progressive government and WE understand that the UK was very much involved in ALL decisions in the EU and that the UK got preferential treatment in many areas..and thats something that appears to have escaped many who voted to "take back control" ...well hell mend them...taking back control wont be what they think it is .Scotland may well be part of the UK BUT it has seperate laws and education systems amongst other things and we need to make sure OUR way of life is protected and that wont happen when Westminster is in control .You are right though I hate and despise the fact we are in this "union" that isn't a union at all..but a dictatorship

Scanning the thread, I noted the following from loopy:
"I am tired of older men being paid a fortune by the BBC when if they were women they would have been dropped ages ago."
So I looked up Kirsty Wark and found that she is 63, not so very much younger than Paxman. She is on the list of high BBC earners between £150K and £199K, less than a number of other female presenters, such as Alex Jones (£400K+), Fiona Bruce (£350K+) and Victoria Derbyshire (£200K+)

(https://news.sky.com/story/bbc-talent-full-list-of-highest-earners-10953675)

Scots who voted Remain may feel betrayed, but Remainers all over the UK feel the same.

And taking away the right to vote would be the ultimate betrayal.

Do Britons living and working in other EU countries vote in elections held in those countries?

Well lets hope you get another referendum asap paddyann and that you finally leave and give us, who love England as I do, a bit of peace. Roll on the day!

I'm afraid your last post does tend to confirm paddyann's point, nn

I dont think so elegran, I understood it was local elections only across the EU. I might be wrong and know someone will be sure to tell me if I am.

If loving England confirms a point, then I unashamedly plead guilty. Other people worldwide love their countries including the Scots without any fear of sneers and jeers from others. It's only we English who are constantly on a guilt trip and denigrated for who we are. Incidentally, other countries, European ones (shock horror,) did have colonies, indulged in the slave trade, and all the other horrors that apparently only we English participated in, yes even Scotland!

It's not easy to find out Elegran
Does anyone know?

One reference in 2005 - "It is important to underline that in nearly all European states, as well as in non-European democracies, full electoral rights are reserved for the countries’ nationals, even though some of them have enfranchised aliens at the local level." ( note - The United Kingdom is exceptional in this regard since it extends active voting rights as well as eligibility in national elections to all Commonwealth and Irish citizens. ) Political participation, mobilisation and representation of Immigrants and their offspring in Europe. Willy Brandt Series of Working Papers in International Migration and Ethnic Relations 1/05 Published 2005