Voter ID: Peers urged to back ‘Fatal Motion’ and protect right to vote
EMBARGO: Immediate Release
The Liberal Democrats have urged peers to back the party’s fatal motion in the House of Lords tomorrow (Tuesday 13 December), to kill off the government's divisive voter ID plans.
If passed, the motion would stop these regulations from becoming law meaning voter ID would not be required from the May 2023 local elections.
The motion was tabled by Baroness Kath Pinnock, Liberal Democrat Local Government Spokesperson in the Lords, who warned that unless it passed thousands of people could be left unable to vote at the next election.
Speaking ahead of the vote, Liberal Democrat Peer Baroness Pinnock said:
“Liberal Democrats have no choice but to oppose these Voter ID regulations in the strongest possible way.
“Without cross-party support or a U-turn from the Government, thousands of people will be simply unable to vote at the next election.
“We will not stop fighting for the fundamental right to vote and for the principles of democracy itself."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
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A fatal motion is a rare parliamentary procedure which would kill off the passage of the Government’s legislation, and is the strongest opposition which can be taken in the House of Lords. A vote on the motion is due to take place in the Lords tomorrow evening.
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Full text of the Fatal Motion
Baroness Pinnock to move, as an amendment to the motion in the name of Baroness Scott of Bybrook, leave out from “that” to the end and insert “this House declines to approve the draft Voter Identification Regulations 2022 as they will prevent legitimate electors from voting in elections and disproportionately affect disadvantaged groups
