THE Liberal Democrats would completely reform the electoral system if they won a majority in Thursday’s general election.

East Hampshire prospective parliamentary candidate David Buxton said young people need to be “challenged” as he backed reducing the voting age to 16.

The Lib Dem fielded questions from the public at Treloar School and College on Thursday (November 28), covering topics from Europe to crime.

Mr Buxton said as it stands the “broken” electoral system is “not working” and would be improved if voters had proportional representation, under which the Lib Dems could win many more seats.

The recent spike in voter registration “shows that young people are interested” and justifies allowing 16 year-olds to vote.

However, the Conservatives “are preventing that”.

“Do you know why?” Mr Buxton added. “Because they’d lose the election. It’s a simple as that.”

He also spoke of playing a political long game and looks forward to a younger intake of voters heading to the polls.

“This is a Tory safe seat but it won’t be safe in future,” he said. “I can guarantee you that.”

He hammered home Lib Dem’s policy to revoke Article 50, or hold a People’s Vote and campaign to remain if in coalition.

If the UK leaves the European Union without a solid deal, Mr Buxton warned there will be job losses, crime will “shoot up” and businesses will be hit by additional tariffs on goods.

“We will end up going backwards,” he added. “People don’t realise how serious it is.”