EU referendum: Odds on UK exit lengthen as pressure grows to give 16 and 17-year-olds a vote
But a Tory MP says young people 'aren't really interested'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The odds of the UK voting to leave the EU have been lengthened amid growing pressure for 16- and 17-year-olds to be given a say in a promised referendum.
Downing Street has announced that the rules for who can take part in the in/out vote, set to take place before the end of 2017, will roughly follow those of general elections – meaning under-18s will miss out.
And Tory MP John Redwood sparked controversy by claiming it was a “myth” that the inclusion of 16- and 17-year-olds in the vote would make it more likely for Britain to vote to stay in the economic bloc.
“I did meetings in schools before the general election,” he said. “No one who was 16 or 17 at those meetings was saying that they specifically wanted to have a vote on the EU issue, because they weren't really interested in the EU issue.”
The proposal to deny young people a vote attracted criticism for David Cameron on Monday, and saw Labour, the SNP and the Lib Dems united in calling for a change to the rules.
And the odds of the UK voting to leave the EU have now lengthened with bookmaker William Hill, from 2/1 to 9/4. The betting company shortened the odds of Britain staying in to 1/3.
Mr Cameron hosted the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Monday and Tuesday for initial talks over EU reform.
On Thursday Mr Cameron will fly to Denmark for a working breakfast with his counterpart Helle Thorning-Schmidt, going on to the Netherlands to meet Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte before ending the day with talks over dinner at the Elysee Palace with French president Francois Hollande.
On Friday, the Prime Minister will travel to Warsaw for discussions with prime minister Ewa Kopacz in Warsaw before concluding the trip in Berlin where he will hold talks with chancellor Angela Merkel.
The Prime Minister hopes to talk to all other 27 leaders of EU member states individually before the European Council summit at the end of next month.
One bookmaker is currently offering odds on which country will be the next to leave the EU. Betfair listed Greece as narrow favourites on 4/6, ahead of the UK on 11/10.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments