BURY North MP David Nuttall came under criticism after claiming that giving 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote would put them at greater risk of sexual exploitation.

Mr Nuttall made the remarks in the House of Commons on Monday as Home Secretary Theresa May faced questions about what her department is doing to protect young people who have been abused.

He asked: "Do you agree with me that if 16 and 17-year-olds are given the vote it increases the likelihood that they will be regarded and treated as adults and therefore increases the likelihood of them becoming victims of sexual exploitation?"

The Home Secretary rejected the idea out of hand, responding: “I would not link the issue of the age of voting with this question of child sexual exploitation.

"I think what we have been doing across a number of areas in the Home Office, including in this area and indeed in domestic violence where we have included 16 and 17-year-olds in our consideration of domestic violence matters, is to recognise the vulnerability of those who are 16 and 17 who are sometimes treated as and considered and thought of as adults, but actually who are equally vulnerable as other younger people and need the protection and care that we should be giving in these difficult issues."

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron took to Twitter to rubbish Mr Nuttall’s comments.

He said: "This is the most outrageous and ridiculous argument against Votes At Sixteen I have ever heard!"

Labour MP Barry Sheerman also suggested earlier this year, during a debate on who should be eligible to vote in Britain's upcoming EU referendum, that lowering the voting age would make young people more vulnerable to sexual abuse.

On Tuesday, Mr Nuttall wrote in his blog: “I was not aware when I asked the question but the Labour MP for Huddersfield had made a similar point when votes for 16 and 17 year olds was being debated in the Chamber earlier in the year. I wonder if all those who criticised me were as quick the criticise the Huddersfield MP.”