Labour has been accused of plotting to ‘rig’ the next election by scrapping voter ID rules and handing millions of foreign nationals the right to vote in a move branded a “shameless” bid to lock in power.
Westminster is buzzing with speculation that Labour ministers are working on sweeping reforms to overhaul election rules, with critics claiming it’s a deliberate attempt to secure a lasting majority.
Plans already include lowering the voting age to 16, with legislation expected later this year. But a bombshell report from the Left-wing Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), which is closely tied to Labour, suggests ditching ID rules and granting voting rights to five million foreign nationals could be next on the list.
The voter ID laws, introduced by the Conservatives in 2022, were designed to clamp down on fraud and protect postal and proxy voting. But the IPPR report calls for their “removal or relaxation,” claiming the rules suppress turnout among non-graduates and renters.
Their report argues that dropping photo ID requirements would “reduce inequality at UK general elections.” It also claims allowing permanent taxpaying residents from outside the UK, Ireland, and Commonwealth to vote would address the “obvious act of self-harm” Labour believes current trends in political inequality cause.
The think-tank didn’t stop there. It suggests automatically registering voters before their 16th birthdays, which could add 700,000 young people to the electoral roll every year.
The proposals have sparked fury among Conservative MPs, who have accused Labour of trying to “gerrymander” elections to secure an unfair advantage.
Nigel Huddleston, co-chairman of the Conservative Party, blasted:
“This is nothing more than a shameless attempt by Labour to rig elections in its favour and turn a blind eye to electoral fraud.
“It is no surprise that Labour has resorted to dirty tricks to improve its chances of electoral success and try to distract people away from its failures.
“In six short months in power it has trashed the economy, whacked up taxes and cut the winter fuel payment for 10 million vulnerable pensioners.”
Former defence minister Sir Alec Shelbrooke piled in, saying:
“’It’s patently clear that Labour is gearing up to roll back sensible ID voting reforms introduced by the Conservatives and introduce other changes to gerrymander the result of future elections in its favour.
“As Labour and Sir Keir Starmer’s poll ratings collapse, this Government will get even keener on trying to rig election rules.
“But any changes won’t be about fairness – they’ll be about ministers trying to save their own skins.”
Meanwhile according to the Daily Mail, Commons Leader Lucy Powell has admitted that the Government is eyeing reforms that go well beyond lowering the voting age.
With voting rights for millions of foreign nationals, scrapping ID laws, and automatic registration all on the table, critics say Labour’s plan is more about saving its own skin than strengthening democracy.
The question now is whether voters will let them get away with it.
