NORTH-west Conservative MEP David Sumberg has hit out at reports that the Government is to press ahead with plans to lower the voting age to 16.

It is believed the move is to be discussed at the Labour Party's winter conference with a view to including it in its manifesto for the next General Election.

However, it flies in the face of the advise of the Electoral Commission which says it should remain at 18.

Bolton based Mr Sumberg said: "Only a Government as out of touch as Labour could waste its time on pursuing such an irrelevance," he said.