Andy Burnham is rushing through laws to scrap the requirement for photo ID at polling stations, a move that will fuel speculation over an early general election. The changes mean people will be allowed to cast their vote with only a bank card as identification.
Under current laws introduced by the Tories in 2023, voters must show photo ID at polling stations. But the new proposals in the Representation of the People Bill would expand the types of eligible ID to include bank cards.
Bill includes donations crackdown and votes at 16
The bill also includes a crackdown on political donations after Reform UK received millions from two crypto billionaires. And it includes the introduction of votes for 16 and 17-year-olds.
Tory peer and pollster Lord Hayward said the Government was “ramming through” the legislation without “giving adequate consideration to what they are proposing”.
Concerns over retrospective legislation
He told the Sunday Telegraph: “I am very concerned indeed about where we are heading, particularly on effectively the process by which we protect our democracy.
“The biggest single concern is that on the financing of both political parties and elections in general, the retrospectivity of parts of the proposals seems to run counter to the basic principles of English legislation. We have always taken the view that you can’t make legislation retrospective.”
Speculation over early election continues
It comes amid ongoing speculation that the Prime Minister will go to the country early despite his denials. The next general election is not due until 2029.
Labour is leading national opinion polls after overtaking Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. Left-wing voters are returning to Labour under new leader Mr Burnham, and the party saw off the threat of the Greens at the Holborn and St Pancras by-election earlier this week.
Meanwhile, the right is split with the Tories and Reform both ruling out an electoral pact.
