You now need ID to vote

Ministers have formally adopted recommendations instigated to combat electoral fraud

The cabinet office will adopt several of the recommendations made in Sir Eric Pickles' report on electoral fraud (Getty)

From next year you will need to bring identification to the polling station in order to cast your vote, following the adoption of recommendations to crack down on electoral fraud.

Traditionally, voters bring a polling card posted to their address, but a pilot scheme will be introduced next year in which a driving licence, passport or utility bill will also be required.

Earlier this year, former cabinet minister Sir Eric Pickles produced a report into electoral fraud, following widespread corruption in Tower Hamlets, and concluded abuse of Britain’s electoral system was widespread.

Sky News reported that many of the recommendations in Sir Eric’s report will be adopted, with an announcement coming in the next few days.

When the report was published in August, Sir Eric blamed the failure of local councils to deal with corruption on political correctness, and an unwillingness to investigate suspicions of wrongdoing in Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities, where powerful heads of families and communities carry what amounts to a bloc vote.

Sir Eric said at the time: “I believe electoral malpractice is far more common than one isolated London borough, thanks to the state’s collective state of denial.

“We should never be frightened to look under the rock when what crawls beneath threatens us all. It’s time to take on the electoral crooks and defend Britain’s free and fair elections.”