TALKS on lowering the voting age turned sinister when a retired councillor questioned how to protect students from the “grooming, political behaviour” of their teachers.

Annesley Hardy’s remarks were met with backlash from Colchester Council’s cabinet at its full council meeting as individuals took personal offence to the accusation.

Nonetheless a motion for Colchester Council to support letting 16-year-olds vote by becoming a trial area during the next borough council elections was passed unanimously.

The former teacher said: “Society expects an unbiased approach from teachers. They should be encouraging rational, evidence-based critical thinking within students.

“Teachers can, of course, hold private political opinions but they shouldn’t project them on to students and colleagues.”

Several people weighed in on the debate including Roger Buston (Con).

He said: “It’s disingenuous to dismiss what councillor Hardy said. She says this from a position of being a teacher for many years.

“Children and young people can be very impressionable.”

Former and current teaching professionals Mark Cory, Tina Bourne, Julie Young and Helen Chuah, reiterated a teacher’s credibility is on the line by compelling a student to vote one way or another.

Ms Bourne added: “I really take exception to the word grooming because grooming has connotations which are far beyond what I think former councillor Hardy wanted to express, I hope, because that’s not the same as influencing.

“Or helping your class or school to engage in the process of citizenship, which is essentially what we want, for young people to engage in their own rights, their responsibilities and to become full citizens.”

Youngsters aged 16 in Scotland already have the chance to vote in local and national elections.

Tim Young (Lab) who proposed the motion, outlined 16-year-olds are legally allowed to get married, join a trade union, change their name by deed poll and work.

Dominic Graham (Lib Dem) also made the observation: “You can have sex with your MP but not vote for them.”

Lewis Barber (Con), who wishes to consult with Essex Youth Parliament on the issue, said although he was not politically-savvy at 16, he was encouraged by his teachers.