Passports: Strike Action and Voter ID

Baroness Hussein-Ece Excerpts

Monday 20th March 2023 Lords Chamber

[Lord Murray of Blidworth (Con)]

I am afraid that I do not accept that there is no need for the voter identification provisions. In any event, as I say, those matters have been approved by the other place and by this House—so that, I am afraid, is that.

[Baroness Hussein-Ece (LD)]

My Lords, can I ask the Minister what he is doing, what the Government think and what assessment they have made about postal votes, because they are not monitored in the same way and ID does not have to be produced in the same way? Voter fraud instances have been higher in postal votes than they ever have for people voting in person.

[Lord Murray of Blidworth (Con)]

I am afraid that this question, too, is an awfully long way from the Private Notice Question in relation to the action taken in the Passport Office. As to forms of identity for voting in person at polling stations, if the noble Baroness wishes to put a Question about postal voting, she can put it to the relevant Minister in DLUHC.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Murray of Blidworth (Con)]

Yes, indeed; the noble Viscount is right. EU and EEA passports and identity cards are valid.

[Baroness Hussein-Ece (LD)]

The noble Lord asked me to write to him because my question was not apparently pertinent to the Question on the Order Paper. Could he confirm that he speaks for the Government?

[Lord Murray of Blidworth (Con)]

Of course.