Political parties should pledge to end overcentralisation and extend devolution to fight voter apathy and widespread cynicism with Government, a panel of MPs has recommended.

The demand is made in a report and public consultation on reforms to the voting system issued today by the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee.

Other key recommendations include making voting compulsory in some elections – with an option to ‘abstain' or vote for ‘none of the above' and lowering the voting age to 16.