Oral Answers to Questions

Julia Lopez Excerpts

Wednesday 19th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland) (Lab)]

5. What progress his Department has made on further voter ID pilots.

[Julia Lopez (Hornchurch and Upminster) (Con)]

10. Whether the Government plans to conduct further voter ID pilots; and if he will make a statement.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)]

12. Whether the Government plans to conduct further voter ID pilots; and if he will make a statement.

--- Later in debate ---

[Chloe Smith]

Yes, I do; the design of the pilots acknowledges that and makes sure that a free-of-charge alternative will be available.

[Julia Lopez]

My previous experience as a Tower Hamlets councillor highlighted to me the significant vulnerability of poorer, more diverse communities to electoral fraud. How can my hon. Friend improve democratic education across all communities so that we can make the electoral system more robust?

[Chloe Smith]

I thank my hon. Friend for bringing her experience and her voice to this debate; it is very important that we hear that. I also thank the hon. Member for Poplar and Limehouse (Jim Fitzpatrick), who also represents Tower Hamlets, for his cross-party support for this policy. It shows how important that is. It is essential that electors are aware that their voice is theirs alone. That message was promoted through various channels in May this year, including work with the Electoral Commission, Crimestoppers and the police, and we will do more to spread that message.