Rishi Sunak and Tory MPs at risk of election wipe out could keep seats over voter ID confusion, poll suggests

Published

1 month ago

April 11, 2024

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Rishi Sunak and other high-profile Conservatives could keep their seats because of voter ID confusion in the next general election, a new poll suggests.

The government passed legislation in 2022 requiring Britons to show photo ID despite warnings it would prevent thousands from voting.

The new rules came into force last year – with a choice of one of 22 forms of ID in order to vote – but resulted in 14,000 individuals being turned away from polling booths in the 2023 local elections.

While recent surveys suggest the Tories could win fewer than 100 seats in the general election, campaigning organisation Best for Britain said the lack of awareness about voter ID laws could prove “decisive” in some MPs keeping their constituencies.

The group’s chief executive Naomi Smith said: “While polls suggest it won’t be enough to change the result of the next general election, the introduction of unnecessary photo ID could be the difference between victory and defeat for high profile Conservatives in marginal constituencies.”

Accepted forms of photo ID

Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country (including an Irish Passport Card)

Driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (this includes a provisional driving licence)

A Blue Badge

Older Person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government

Disabled Person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government

60+ London Oyster Photocard funded by Transport for London

Freedom Pass

Scottish National Entitlement Card issued for the purpose of concessionary travel (including a 60+, disabled or under 22s bus pass)

60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card

Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card

Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland

Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland

War Disablement SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland

60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland

Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland

Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)

Biometric immigration document

Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)

National identity card issued by an EEA state

Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland

Voter Authority Certificate

Anonymous Elector’s Document

According to a March survey on behalf of Best for Britain, the Conservative Party is projected to win 98 seats based on current polling, with the prime minister, Jeremy Hunt and Liz Truss set to see majorities in their constituencies cut to less than 5%.

However the poll, which surveyed 15,000 people, showed that 16% of respondents did not know they would need ID to vote.

If that figure was repeated nationwide, the campaign group said that around five million Britons would be turned away from polling booths.

Best for Britain also projected that around 1.85 million people in marginal seats do not know about voter ID rules, including around 9,800 people in Mr Sunak’s constituency – which will be Richmond and Northallerton in North Yorkshire as of the next election.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said it would “work closely with local authorities and other partners to raise awareness” about voter ID requirements.

A spokesperson added: “As recommended by international election watchdogs, we introduced a requirement to show photographic identification for voting in person across Great Britain, in line with the longstanding arrangements in Northern Ireland.

“We are committed to ensuring everyone can have their say in our democracy, and the Electoral Commission will continue to conduct public awareness campaigns ahead of each set of relevant polls.

“The vast majority of voters in the polling station – 99.75% – cast their vote successfully at the local elections in England last May.”

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Jeremy Hunt to promise further tax cuts as pre-general election battle hots up

Published

15 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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Jeremy Hunt to promise further tax cuts as pre-general election battle hots up

Jeremy Hunt will promise further tax cuts if the Tories win the next general election and will accuse the Labour Party of not being honest about how it will fund its spending pledges.

The chancellor will give a speech in London on Friday in which he will accuse his shadow, Rachel Reeves, of resorting to “playground politics” with her criticism of the high levels of taxation on UK households.

Mr Hunt will also reiterate his ambition to eradicate the national insurance tax – which the Tories have already slashed twice in a bid to move the polls – where they currently lag 20 points behind Labour.

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Labour has attacked the policy as an unfunded £46bn pledge and likened it to the policies that saw Liz Truss resign from office after just 44 days as prime minister.

The chancellor was previously forced to make clear that his desire to abolish the “unfair” national insurance tax would not happen “any time soon”.

The chancellor described national insurance as a “tax on work” and said he believed it was “unfair that we tax work twice” when other forms of income are only taxed once.

The overall tax burden is expected to increase over the next five years to around 37% of gross domestic product – close to a post-Second World War high – but Mr Hunt will argue the furlough scheme brought in during the pandemic and the help the government gave households for heating both needed to be paid for.

“Labour like to criticise tax rises this parliament thinking people don’t know why they have gone up – the furlough scheme, the energy price guarantee and billions of pounds of cost-of-living support, policies Labour themselves supported,” he will say.

“Which is why it is playground politics to use those tax rises to distract debate from the biggest divide in British politics – which is what happens next.

“Conservatives recognise that whilst those tax rises may have been necessary, they should not be permanent. Labour do not.”

James Murray, Labour’s shadow financial secretary to the Treasury, said: “There is nothing Jeremy Hunt can say or do to hide that fact that working people are worse off after 14 years of economic failure under the Conservatives.”