Contributions
1,177 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDRepresentation of the People Bill (First sitting)Q I am sorry to keep focusing on this point, but can you explain to the Committee how you would deem bank cards to be more secure than someone just turning up with a polling card,…18 Mar 2026HANSARDRepresentation of the People Bill (First sitting)Q So that is a cumulative figure; it is not a figure from a major national poll, the 2024 general election. Dr Garland: No. It was 16,000 at the general election—although I would…18 Mar 2026HANSARDRepresentation of the People Bill (Second sitting)Mr Marshall, don’t feel you need to, but if you want to add something, you are more than entitled to. David Marshall : I have nothing further to add.18 Mar 2026HANSARDRepresentation of the People Bill (First sitting)Q Thank you for that. May I challenge you—not challenge, but ask you; I am not a challenger—to elaborate on the 42,000 number? The Electoral Commission reported—this is in…18 Mar 2026HANSARDRepresentation of the People Bill (First sitting)Q It could also be argued that if you cannot prove that there has been an increase or decrease in the amount of personation, the system is working, couldn’t it? Dr Garland: I…18 Mar 2026HANSARDRepresentation of the People Bill (Second sitting)Q Mr Marshall, is there anything you wish to add? David Marshall: Nothing substantial—just that I think the younger community here in Northern Ireland get it and accept it. The…18 Mar 2026HANSARDRepresentation of the People Bill (Second sitting)I would be one of the people sad enough to go to the National Archives to look at them, so I am fully in favour of it. Azzurra Moores: Me too. Chris Morris: See you there.18 Mar 2026HANSARDRepresentation of the People Bill (Second sitting)Q I notice that quite a considerable number of Labour Members have signed new clause 10, so let’s hope that when we get to Report, they put their money where their mouths are and…18 Mar 2026HANSARDPoints of OrderFurther to that point of order, Mr Speaker. Notwithstanding the rulings that you have made from the Chair, which I think are always perfect and completely right, we are now…18 Mar 2026HANSARDRepresentation of the People Bill (First sitting)In the interests of transparency, I have met various witnesses in other settings in my official capacity as shadow Minister.18 Mar 2026HANSARDRepresentation of the People Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you for that very thorough answer. The Bill makes provisions for a number of risk factors to be taken into account when conducting enhanced due diligence checks on…18 Mar 2026HANSARDRepresentation of the People Bill (First sitting)Q Good morning and welcome. First, thank you for what you do for all of us; without electoral administrators none of us would be here, so thank you, Mr Stanyon. The Government…18 Mar 2026HANSARDRepresentation of the People Bill (Second sitting)I appreciate that. We will go away to look at how that new clause can be tailored to your feedback, all three of you. The new clause came out of some of the campaigning in the…18 Mar 2026HANSARDRepresentation of the People Bill (First sitting)You will have noticed some scepticism from the previous panel—I do not think it is ungenerous to say that—about the proposals for using bank cards as a form of identification. In…18 Mar 2026HANSARDRepresentation of the People Bill (First sitting)Q Thank you. This will be my final question. In the old system, our polling cards at least had our full names on them. There was a question about that, which is why we…18 Mar 2026HANSARDRepresentation of the People Bill (First sitting)Q Councillor Bentley, because you are a leader of a council and you are responsible for a number of staff on polling day, I value your opinion on the voter ID question. Mr…18 Mar 2026HANSARDRepresentation of the People Bill (Second sitting)I agree. Richard Mawrey: The problem—which I have found in all the cases I have tried, and not simply those to do with family voting, but almost any electoral offence—is that…18 Mar 2026HANSARDRepresentation of the People Bill (Second sitting)I find it interesting that most of the people who we consider to be academics, and have made their life’s profession the integrity of the election system, are not in favour of it,…18 Mar 2026HANSARDRepresentation of the People Bill (Second sitting)Q I do not think you are the only one sitting around the table today who considers the Bill a missed opportunity, particularly when it comes to catching up on digital harms and…18 Mar 2026HANSARDRepresentation of the People Bill (Second sitting)Q Councillor and Mr Mawrey, do you have anything to say on family voting? I know about your experience in Tower Hamlets, councillor, but I am not sure whether that was a factor.…18 Mar 2026