Oral Answers to Questions

Kirsten Oswald Excerpts

Thursday 15th June 2023 Commons Chamber

[Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) (SNP)]

4. What recent discussions the Committee has had with the Electoral Commission on the implementation of voter ID in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) England ahead of national elections.

[Kirsten Oswald (East Renfrewshire) (SNP)]

6. What recent discussions the Committee has had with the Electoral Commission on the implementation of voter ID in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) England ahead of national elections.

--- Later in debate ---

[Cat Smith]

The Commission has continued to do research to identify key groups who are likely to need additional support to navigate the ID requirements, including the over-85s. Ahead of the May elections, the Commission worked with civil society organisations and local authorities to produce tailored resources to reach each group. However, the matter that the hon. Lady raised is for Government policymaking rather than the Commission, which supports electoral administrators.

[Kirsten Oswald]

A former Cabinet Minister has said:

“Parties that try and gerrymander end up finding their clever schemes come back to bite them, as…we found when insisting on voter ID”.

That claim appears accurate, as a snapshot of voting in the English council elections in the east of England found that thousands of people were turned away for not having the correct ID, resulting in them not voting. What steps are being taken to ensure that voters are not disenfranchised by the Tory party’s gerrymandering?

[Cat Smith]

On the comments to which the hon. Lady refers, the introduction of the voter ID requirement was debated and passed by Parliament. Policy decisions are rightly a matter for Parliament and not the Electoral Commission. It is for the Government to comment on the intentions of their policy.