The following is taken from David Drew's column from this week's SNJ (Wed 19).

Throughout 2018, I have visited all Stroud secondary schools, and I am planning a debate with Stroud sixth-form students in the new year.

The quality of the discussion I’ve enjoyed with these young people leaves me in no doubt that the voting age can and should be lowered to include 16 and 17-year-olds.

Scotland has already done this, and there is no reason why the rest of the UK should not follow suit.

The future, of course, belongs to the young, and the issues that have been at the forefront of 2018 and will dominate the agenda of 2019 will have a profound effect on young people, if they’re not already doing so.

Our future relationship with the EU is the major issue of the day which is poised to shape the lives of future generations.

But climate change will have an even greater impact on their lives and is something we need to tackle with urgency. Housing, mental health in young people and the crisis in education funding are all affecting younger generations directly.

Contrary to many preconceptions, the young people I meet are politically engaged and increasingly politically active.

Enabling them to vote would build on this engagement, and evidence suggests that if young people don’t vote at the first election after they reach voting age, they remain non-voters for the rest of their lives.

We need to focus attention to find new and imaginative ways to encourage them to vote, and make sure that any change to the voting age is accompanied by proper political and civic education in schools. For too long the political agenda has been pulled towards appealing to older voters. I hope that in 2019 and beyond it will reflect a younger voice too. I have no doubt that oldies like me would also benefit from the addition of youngsters to the electoral roll.