Island MP Criticised for Stance on Referendum Voting Age

The Isle of Wight's Member of Parliament Andrew Turner has been criticised by Deputy Youth MP Will Matthews for refusing to back a move to lower the voting age to 16 for the forthcoming European Union referendum.

Conservative MP Mr. Turner voted with his party in the Commons last Thursday to keep the voting age at 18, saying he didn't see a case for the rules to be different for the referendum to what they had been for the recent general election.

But Mr. Matthews tweeted that he had been "super disappointed" by the move, and that Mr. Turner had "let the Island's young people down".

The Labour amendment to lower the voting age for the poll was defeated by 310 votes to 265.

Last Minute Offers from Rookley Country Park

The following late offers are available at Rookley Country Park on the Isle of Wight from Island View Holidays:

19th – 22nd June
Medina Caravan 3 bedroom £89
Solent Caravan 3 bedroom £99
Wight Cottage 2 bedroom £129

22nd – 26th June
Medina Caravan 3 bedroom £89
Solent Caravan 3 bedroom £99
Wight Cottage 2 bedroom £129

Centrally located and set in 23 acres of beautiful parkland, Rookley Country Park is ideal for active families and a great base for exploring the Isle of Wight.

Rookley Country Park offers:

Indoor & outdoor heated pools
Bar & restaurant
Well stocked fishing lakes

Reproduced with acknowledgements to The Holiday Zone 

Awards for Isle of Wight Volunteers

By Richard Wright

Four top volunteering awards were announced this week for members of Isle of Wight organisations.

Historic Ryde Society, Friends of Brading Roman Villa and Green Towns Shanklin each won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

There was also good news for Pam Ash, the woman behind Cafe Scientifique, which meets in Shanklin and explores the latest ideas in science and technology.

During Volunteers’ Week it was announced that Mrs Ash — who founded the group with her husband John — from the British Science Association’s Hampshire and Isle of Wight branch, won the Sir Walter Bodmer Award.

For more on this story, please see the Isle of Wight County Press on Friday, June 5.

Reproduced with acknowledgements to Isle of Wight County Press