One of the arguments for why under-18s should not vote in the EU referendum is that they could be influenced by politicians "like Hitler", according to a peer in the House of Lords.

The Earl of Listowel made the comment during a debate on whether 16 and 17-year-olds should have a say on whether Britain stays in the EU.

Despite arguments put forward against the amendment, the Lords voted in favour of giving them the right to vote, by 293 to 211.

The move was welcomed by Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP.

But the government isn't happy and said it would seek to reverse it when the bill returns to the Commons.

'One thinks of the Hitler Youth'

Lord Listowel, who doesn't represent any one party, argued that nationalism was on the rise in Europe and politicians could use this to attract young voters.

Listowel, also known as Francis Hare, also said that unfair, immoral and extremist politicians may be more appealing to under-18s.

"For instance, in the 1930s, Hitler came to power in a much more extreme economic climate.

"We are in difficult times and one can see the rise of unscrupulous politicians who can reach towards young people.

"One thinks of the Hitler Youth in Hitler's time and, in China, of the way in which young people were targeted during the Cultural Revolution by those who were able to influence them easily."

He also said these types of politicians could use memes and viral content to "influence" young voters.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for them to vote on this significant issue Baroness Morgan of Ely

"In the last election, I'm told, there was a caricature of the leader of the opposition with a pair of donkey ears behind his head, which was very popular and interesting.

"Now, that sort of approach by an unscrupulous politician might have quite some influence and more influence on a 16 and 17-year-old perhaps than an 18 or 19-year-old."

Former Conservative minister Lord Hamilton of Epsom said that the amendment to include young people in the vote was to tilt the playing field in favour of the pro-EU campaign.

In contrast, Baroness Morgan of Ely insisted that lowering the voting age was a necessary one-off measure and that evidence showed that more 16 and 17-year-olds had voted in last year's Scottish independence referendum than older voters.

"This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for them to vote on this significant issue.

"In this instance they will possibly never again get a say in their country's future relationship with the EU, but they will have to live with the consequences of that decision for longer than any of us."

Lord Tyler said the same arguments being used against extending the right to vote to 16 and 17-year-olds were also used in the past to try to prevent women voting.

People have been tweeting their reactions.

If the ruling in favour of young voters is not changed by MPs, it could affect when the EU vote takes place.

A change would make it unlikely that a referendum could be held next year.

It is thought that David Cameron favours a referendum vote some time in 2016.

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