Contributions
895 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)I am really thrilled that the Minister has made that point, because I have been the shadow Minister for democracy and elections for the Labour party since 2016 and I think that,…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)But this Bill does not solidify all our election law into one single, cohesive piece of legislation that campaigners can use, that gives voters confidence, and that makes it…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)I thank the hon. Gentleman for sharing the example of Peterborough. I thought Gillian Beasley gave some really strong evidence to the Committee. The Opposition found the example…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)I would like to make this comparison, and then I will give way to the hon. Gentleman. I want to compare those four cases to the trials, which took place in just a handful of…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)The hon. Gentleman is drawing on the evidence of Lord Pickles, who did not say that photo ID cards should be required to prove identity; he also included utility bills. The forms…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)The hon. Gentleman is making a point about following the evidence, but should the Government not also follow what is going on in the courts? Is he aware of the case in Braintree,…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)In the intervention the hon. Gentleman took, he was accused of using as evidence one Conservative politician. Have the Conservative members of the Committee not just taken the…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)I thank the hon. Gentleman for giving way, because he is talking about rights and I think we both agree that there is something fundamental about that. We are both proud of our…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)rose —22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)I am glad that the hon. Gentleman has moved on to the point about European comparisons because the countries that he referred to have national ID cards that are given out free by…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)I was about to raise the issue of women who marry and need to change their surname on IDs and other documents. However, the hon. Gentleman has triggered in my mind another…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Sixth sitting)Without this amendment, I fear we risk a postcode lottery, where many women will be very anxious about the prospect of voting without the guarantee of a female poll clerk to…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)On a point of order, Sir Edward. I never said anything about ethnic minorities in my intervention on the Minister. I said that data on different ethnic groups was not collected. I…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Edward. I welcome the new Minister, the new Government Whip and the new member of the Committee, the hon. Member for Devizes.…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)I have been a member of the Labour party since 2004 and I have never been asked to produce photo ID to participate in my local party or national party events, to stand as a Member…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)The same witness also said: “Not only was there electoral fraud in the sense of false votes—almost all postal votes—" the Bill does nothing to resolve that issue— “but the system…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)Will the Minister give way? I wish to correct the record.22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)On that point, will the Minister give way?22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)I will give way to a Member who has not managed to intervene yet.22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)It is a barrier to someone who does not have that form of ID, which is the whole point of the clause. One witness also made the point that we are asking people who do not have the…22 Sept 2021