Sweet 16 and 17

Votes for 16 and 17-year olds has been debated for years - by governments of various hues and colours - in both the Scottish and Westminster Parliaments.

So you've got to give credit where credit is due - because the SNP Government at Holyrood has at long last acted to give 16 and 17-year olds the vote - and for the first time this will finally happen in Scotland's independence referendum in 2014.

Now why have we waited so long for this modest step forward in voter democracy - to come about? 

Primarily because while the other main parties - Labour, Tories and Lib Dems - have all talked a good fight for years the SNP have put their money where there mouth is - and a bill to give 16 and 17-year olds the vote is going before the Scottish Parliament today.

The curious thing is that this reform is a 'one-off' and only affects the 2014 referendum - in which case why don't all the other parties come out and say that they support the principle of votes for 16 and 17-year olds in other elections. 

For example, to Scotland's local councils - the Westminster Parliament in London - and in the European Parliament elections.

Poor voter turnout and voter apathy affects most electoral contests these days - so maybe encouraging younger people to vote - combined with easier methods of voting (via e-mail, for example) - will help turn this trend around.