Labour accused of plot to 'rig' next election by axing voter ID scheme and allowing millions of foreign nationals to vote
By MARK HOOKHAM and ANNA MIKHAILOVA
Published: 18:22 EST, 4 January 2025 | Updated: 21:28 EST, 4 January 2025
Labour was last night accused of plotting a shameless bid to 'rig' the next election by sweeping away laws to prevent voter fraud and allowing millions of foreign nationals to vote.
Speculation is mounting in Westminster that ministers are drawing up radical reforms that will dramatically overhaul the way elections are held – and potentially 'lock in' a Labour Party majority.
The Government is already planning to extend the right to vote to 16 and 17-year-olds, with legislation expected later this year.
Now the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), a Left-wing think-tank closely aligned with Labour, has called for the 'removal or relaxation' of rules that force people to show photographic identification before voting.
Introduced in 2022, the rules were designed to protect postal and proxy voting from fraud and crack down on vote intimidation.
The IPPR, however, warns turn-out is falling among non-graduates and renters and says lessening the photo ID requirements, or axing them, would 'reduce inequality at UK general elections'.
Its report adds: 'Letting current trends in political inequality play out would be an obvious act of self-harm for this Government.'
The IPPR also suggests that 5 million foreign nationals be allowed to vote – a massive extension of the franchise likely to overwhelmingly benefit Labour.
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14250805/Labour-rig-election-voter-ID-scheme.html
