Bradford could have its first 18-year-old MP under new plans unveiled by the Government.

Current election rules prevent anyone under the age of 21 from standing for office but ministers say they will now press for change.

The decision comes on the back of an Electoral Commission report which recommended that the door be opened to younger politicians. Election minister and Shipley MP Chris Leslie unveiled the plans in the House of Commons yesterday. He said: "At 18, if you are old enough to vote, you are old enough to be voted for. Giving younger people the right to participate fully in elections from the age of 18 can only encourage them to learn more about the democratic process and use their right to vote."

He added: "It is for the electorate to decide whether a candidate can adequately represent them and it was Electoral Commission's view that there may well be people younger than 21 who are capable of acting as effective elected representatives."

However Mr Leslie would not commit to a timescale on reducing the age of candidacy, saying only that the Government would seek legislation "when parliamentary time allows".

Mr Leslie was elected Britain's youngest MP in the 1997 General Election at the age of 24. He beat Sir Marcus Fox who hat held the seat for the Tories for more than 20 years.

The announcement was welcomed by one of the candidates for election to the Bradford and Keighley Youth Parliament this week. Mohammad Ayaz, 19, said: "I think it is a great idea. When it comes to Government it seems to be about older people deciding for the youth, but with this you would have the youth speaking for themselves."

The Grange Technology College student admitted there may be some disadvantages regarding training and voter prejudice, but added: "With 18-year-olds in Government you would get an injection of youthful ideas into the decision-making process. If I didn't have so much on I would probably stand."

Mr Leslie also announced the Government will recommend that the voting age remains 18. The age bar stretches back to 1695, although the discrepancy with the voting age only began when it was reduced to 18 in 1969.