As the Guardian has reported:
Boris Johnson's government is expected to introduce a bill in the spring to make photo ID mandatory from 2023 for all UK-wide and English elections. But critics argue it is unnecessary, given low levels of voter fraud in the UK, and will disproportionately impact ethnic minority and working-class communities.
There was only one conviction for “personation” fraud, which voter ID is meant to prevent, in the UK in 2019.
There are countless issues of significance in this country that need to be addressed right now. As I have suggested this morning, these include pressing issues of constitutional significance. There is also the very obvious need for electoral reform in this country. But what there is not is any need to introduce law to require photo ID in order to vote.
Reports suggest that more than 20% of those currently entitled to vote do not have photo ID. Many of them will not get it just to vote. In a great many cases they will not be able to afford to do so. The consequence is obvious. The UK electoral franchise is being reduced on the basis of false claims to favour the Conservative Party who think that those so excluded would not vote for them.
We have to ask if we live in a democracy any more.
We have to ask if those governing us are in the slightest bit interested in democracy any more.
We even have to ask if they care that we know that they are not democrats, and do not care for a universal franchise.
At its most basic level this government is saying that some people do not count, and that they want us all, including those who will not count, to know that.
And that, in my opinion, makes them contemptible.
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I don’t have a fundamental objection to having to carry ID in order to do certain things – that is modern life. But if the Government is going to require it for THE most fundamental democratic act then it must be issued free of charge. Given that it will, in effect, be universal there can be no possible objection to covering the cost out of general taxation – to do otherwise would be terribly regressive.
The fact is that this is all about voter suppression and that is appalling.
I agree totally.
I remember Blunkett’s idea for ID cards at £70-80.
Very New Labour, and very anti-democratic.
Here in France, ID cards – needed among other things to vote – have long been part of life and are well accepted. But indeed – unlike passports – they are FREE. This absolutely has to be a condition for requiring photo ID to vote.
Agreed
This sort of voter suppression tactic is from the playbook of the US Republican party (and before them the Southern Democrats) for the very basic reason that it is easier to win elections if you put obstacles in the way of people who you think might vote for your opponents. Even if the necessary identification card is free of charge, and I expect it won’t be, many people will not get it and will be effectively disenfranchised.
It will also be a very short step to require everyone to carry and show photographic identification on request. Although by the time that surveillance cameras with face recognition software become ubiquitous, it won’t be needed anyway. Welcome to our brave new world.
I really do wonder what the response of the official opposition will be.
I suppose it may start to gain some traction with them when they find the courage to overcome their fear of their own shadow ( no pun intended).
Indeed, I really would like to know how they will respond to such blatant gerrymandering.
The ardent coupsters of 2016 have much to answer for, a time when Tory and Labour are neck and neck in the polls.
I meant “were neck and neck in the polls”.
Hang on we need photo ID got lots of things already to prevent fraud or falsify information ..to travel, drive a car, to get into a pub, open a bank account.. the list goes on. Why not to vote to stamp out any risk of voter fraud?..what effort does it take? Not very much is the answer
I knew I could rely on you to deliver the anti-democracy line
20% of people have not got and do not need photo ID
You want to disenfranchise them because of your casually arrogant assumption that all people are like you
Why?
As Clive said, issue them free.. what’s the problem?
But none are
And that is not the plan
Dear Professor Murphy, please start referring to the UK as a “part-democracy”. That Sir Alec Douglas-Home could be PM in 1963 for a few weeks without being a member of either House of Parliament illustrates that the UK cannot be a full democracy. If you start using the word “part-democracy” you may influence all media sources to be more accurate! Calling the UK a democracy is a fake fact.
I like it! – Would “Pseudo-democracy” be more appropriate though, given how many votes are needed per party MP, and given proposed changes in favour of Conservatives will exacerbate this.
https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/campaigns/electoral-reform/
That Johnson and the Conservative party are suggesting a policy that suppresses democratic engagement is not surprising. They may have difficulties with their alt-right supporters who might view this as an infringement on their ‘freedom’. If it can be politicized in the same way masks have been politicized, Conservatives would have to drop this proposal.
Aaah – my mate Tim Snyder is conversant with this – it’s the usual fascist ploy to manufacture threats to the enation and then for the leader who needs to be popular to ride to our aid with an answer.
And so the love for the leader grows.
Bad stuff this photocard business.
Reading it now
If you mean ‘The Road to Unfreedom’ – wrap up well – it will send a chill or two down your spine rather like Covid I suspect. But I am sure you will recognise the world it describes as did I.
I do, already
The apocalypse draws nigh, the curtain begins to lift… can’t help thinking of this as any pretence this is or ever has been a democracy increasingly can clearly be seen for the nonsense it always has been. Merely giving people the vote doesn’t make them qualified to use it in their own best interests. When they can be easily manipulated and kept too busy to have time to think for themselves, well… they do what they’re told and think it’s their own idea too. That’s not democracy for me. Boris and chums are in charge and increasingly are forced to show this plainly in order to hang on to power as their grip on the nation weakens. I’m encouraged myself. It’s not the sort of move any confident government would feel the need to make. No wonder Boris wants a situation room. How long before they’re calling it The Bunker?
What I fail to understand is why the Government is demanding ever more ID, sometimes for perfectly good reasons, but will not introduce a national ID card scheme & population register like most European nations.
Given that about 75% of UK Nationals hold a passport, and the ID checks that are required for Universal Credit I dont see that it presents any particular problems if rolled out over about 10 years. I would also suggest excluding anyone born before 1960.
I was first eligible to vote in 1983. Since then I have never lived in a constituency where my preferred candidate or party had any chance of being elected. Every election I may as well not bothered voting for all the good it did. If they are going to start charging for the right to vote, then maybe, just maybe, I will be tempted to pass up the opportunity. After all, what difference would it make if I didn’t vote?
And that is exactly why the Tories are attracted to this idea.