Gerald Jones, MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, has accused the government of planning a “clearly discriminatory” and “blatant” attempt to effectively take the vote away from poorer people and many young and elderly voters, using proposals to demand official photo ID at the ballot box before voting.

In Merthyr Tydfil County Borough there was 1 allegation of polling station fraud in 2017, and 1 allegation of polling station fraud in 2018, whereas in Caerphilly County Borough there were no allegations of polling station fraud in either 2017 or 2018.

Indeed across the UK, out of more than 44 million votes cast in 2017, there was only one conviction resulting from 28 allegations of polling station voter fraud. The number of allegations fell to just 8 in 2018, with only one resulting in a conviction.

But across the country, 3.5 million citizens do not have access to any photo ID, with 11 million citizens lacking a passport or driving licence.

Gerald said:

“The government is trying to stop poorer people voting, denying people their democratic rights and rigging the result of the next General Election.

 

“As well as poorer people, these plans will make it much harder for many young and elderly voters in our area and across the UK to vote too.

 

“We will not allow the Tories to shut down our democracy by making it harder for people in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney and across the country to vote. We’ve got to stop this plan – and that means stopping the Conservatives.”