Legal proceedings launched against government over voter ID trials

Law firm Leigh Day say they have sought permission from the High Court to apply for a judicial review

There were 28 cases of polling station impersonations alleged in 2017. (PA)

Legal proceedings have been launched today against the government over its plans to press ahead with the roll-out of the contentious voter ID trials.

It comes after a crowdfunding campaign by 64-year-old Neil Coughlan and backed by Jeremy Corbyn, reached £20,000, enabling him to instruct lawyers on his behalf.

Law firm Leigh Day have formally sought permission from the High Court to apply for a judicial review in an attempt to scupper ministers’ plans to hold further pilots of voter ID at the local elections later this year.

In 2018, ministers were warned to ditch their plans for nationwide roll-out of voter ID checks as it emerged introducing them at a general election could cost up to £20m - even though there were 28 cases of polling station impersonations alleged in 2017.

And research from the Electoral Commission - probing the use of voter ID at the local elections last year - also recorded that 1,036 people who tried to cast their ballot in areas participating in the pilot were turned away because they did not have the correct identification.

Around a third of these people (350) did not return to the polling station with the correct form of ID.

Mr Coughlan believes the government does not have the legal authority under the Representation of the People Act 200 to introduce the pilots, which he claims will prevent individuals from casting their ballot later this year.

Tessa Gregory, a solicitor at the law firm who is representing Mr Coughlan, said her client is concerned that voter ID requirements are being “brought back in by the back door unlawfully”.

She added: “It is his case that the legislative provisions which the government is seeking to use, to first pilot voter ID and then roll it out nationally, were elated to test methods to facilitate voting (such as online voting), not to restrict people’s entitlement to vote by requiring ID.

“We will argue on his behalf that the government is going beyond the powers given to it by parliament and that any attempts to introduce voter ID in elections ought to be subject to the proper scrutiny of our elected representatives.”

Labour’s Cat Smith, the shadow minister for voter engagement, said: “We cannot let 2019 be the year that the Tories get away with closing down democracy by preventing people voting, which is why Labour is supporting this challenge.’

She continued: “This case is about defending everyone’s right to vote, and we applaud Neil for standing up against the government’s unnecessary, undemocratic and unpopular plans.

“And the fiasco we saw at last year’s local elections, with hundreds of legitimate voters turned away from polling stations, it’s a disgrace that the Tories are ploughing with proposals that could be unlawful.”

Mr Coughlan, who does not possess any form of photo ID, said the scheme will “serve to further disenfranchise the poor and vulnerable who already struggle to have their voices heard”.

The Cabinet Office spokesperson said: 'Local authorities will provide voters with alternative methods of ID free of charge, to ensure that everyone eligible to vote has the opportunity to.'