Simon Danczuk at odds with his caseworker over votes for 16-year-olds

Simon Danczuk's caseworker calls 16-year-olds 'idiots'

Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk is at odds with his senior caseworker, Elsie Wraighte, over votes for 16-year-olds.

Mr Danczuk voted in Parliament last week in favour of allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote.

Asked to comment, he told Rochdale Online: “I’m in favour of votes for 16-year-olds, and I’ve been clear about that for a long time. My reasoning for this is that if you are old enough to serve your country in the armed forces, to get married, and to pay tax then you should be able to have your say on who represents you.”

Elsie Wraighte, his senior caseworker, branded 16-year-olds as “idiots” on Twitter. Ms Wraighte, who has been working as the MP's caseworker since March, tweeted: “Don’t disagree with much as much as I disagree with votes for 16-year-olds. 16-year-olds are idiots.”

Under 18s will not be allowed to take part in local elections, after Conservative ministers successfully blocked a move to lower the voting age in England and Wales.

A clause that would have lowered the voting age to 16 has been scrapped from the Government's flagship devolution bill.

It would have allowed 16 and 17-year olds to vote in local government elections, police and crime commissioner elections, elections for the Greater London Authority and mayor, and elections to the Welsh National Assembly.

The clause was defeated by 283 votes to 188 - a majority of 95