The 2021 Queen’s Speech, a Positive Step Forward: Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Government to bring forward legislation plans to change voting rules to introduce mandatory photographic ID in order to vote at polling stations, typically the usual suspects of the SNP and Scottish Greens wrongly condemn proposal as 'Tory suppression’, it seems that Nationalist have engaged mouth before brain, a new totally free photographic voter ID card will be made available for those who cannot afford it, it seems democracy has taken a positive step forward

Dear All 

Over many years, there has been voter fraud at elections, google is awash of stories of manipulation of the voting system. If you believe in democracy, then you must refuse to accept the premise put for by some that this isn't a problem. In a democracy, we must all be aware that some people are anti democratic, they will cheat the system for personal gain. I favour harsh measures against people who do this, and by that I do mean imprisonment. You see cheating at election has consequences for everyone because put people, corrupt people into power doesn't suddenly make them honest. Politics is a dirty business, it is a nasty business filled with despicable people who hide out in plain sight in front of you. The system is open to abuse, which is why I support any measure to make it more difficult for people to cheat. I am strongly in favour of mandatory photographic ID in order to cast your vote. Whether this is a passport or driving licence, or another form of ID such as an authorised ID secure travel card, I am really not bother. At present, you can turn up at a polling station, give your name and address, show no ID and vote. This is why we need a system of photographic ID to ensure integrity of the ballot. 

One of the other abuses which I would like to see ended is the issue of postal ballots, which are open to being manipulated, where someone 'collects' people votes and delivers them to the council. This leaves people in minority communities open to be pressurised into voting for a certain candidate. No one should get a postal vote unless there is a reason such as medical impairment or if they will be out of the country on the day of the ballot, and that should be verified by the source point where they bought tickets. I also favour mandatory voting in the UK. We get bad politicians because people experience apathy towards politics, some people said this Holyrood election had a high turn-out, but a substantial proportion of the electorate didn't vote. Although the SNP won most of the First Past The Post seats, they did so in many case by getting circa 30% of the eligible vote in a seat. They maybe be screaming "mandate for indyref 2" but there is just as big a mandate for apathy. Another way the voting system can be rigged is the government party using analysis to get voters who should be excluded from voting by changing the voting franchise. The SNP did this by allowing 16 year olds, some still at school and refugees to vote. Refugees are not citizens of the UK, and shouldn't be allowed voting rights until such time as they become British citizens. The usual response to this notion is that people scream racism, but doesn't anyone know what slur can be used against someone objecting to 16 year olds who in the main don't understand life or the consequences of voting in bad politicians? To them, its all a big game, to the rest of us, it leads to societal decline.  

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to announce his intention to make it mandatory to bring photographic ID to polling stations in order to vote. Already opposition parties such as the SNP are alarmed that anyone would favour a crack down on impersonation and fraudulent voting. Kirsten Oswald, the SNP’s deputy Westminster leader, said the move was “Trump-like” and an attempt to dissuade voters, particularly those form poorer backgrounds. Given there is a legal and a human right to vote, and that government must facilitate this, the onus would be on the government to supply a method. And that method would have to be cost neutral in order to comply with human rights. Your right to vote doesn't say bring ID, but human rights doesn't say people can take part in a free and fair election. The issuing therefore of a free government voter id card effectively takes away any object which the minor UK parties such as the SNP and the Scottish Greens may have. 

Oswald, who apparently lives in the expensive suburb of Newton Mearns, said: 

“Boris Johnson's Trump-like plans to disenfranchise thousands of voters across Scotland and the UK are an act of blatant Tory voter suppression - and must be stopped. There is a very real danger that many lower income, ethnic minority, and younger people will be prevented from voting to fix a problem that doesn't exist. These laws are designed to suppress votes among groups that traditionally vote against the Tories. It's a disgrace.” 

The fact is there is a problem of voter fraud by the public, but also there is an issue of voter fraud by people in political parties. In this case, I am not just talking about some random party member, I am talking about people who have been elected to political office such as Cllrs et al. Although Oswald, MP for East Renfrewshire, said the UK Government should “follow Scotland’s lead” by allowing 16-year-olds to vote as well as refugees and those foreign nationals who have leave to remain. She misses the fundamental point, but in reality she chooses to ignore using the discredited cost argument. The government can change the rules because they are the government, however, what they cannot do, and what they signed up for is Article 3, so why isn't the SNP MP using the Article 3 argument, elections must be free. Free doesn't just mean you can take part, it makes as I have mentioned cost neutral. This could be done by issuing a photographic NHS entitlement card. Basically the overwhelming number of the entire population is on the NHS network, there is a file on you with your complete medical history, every time you attended the Dr, hospital or NHS Clinic, it is all there. So, for the government to issue an NHS card with your picture onto an already established system would keep the costs to government low while solving a problem. 

https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/human-rights-act/article-3-first-protocol-right-free-elections 

Oswald added: 

“The SNP is clear - we will reject any such measures for Scottish elections. Instead of running scared of democracy and trying to curtail the voting rights of millions of people, the Tory government should follow Scotland's lead. The SNP government will continue to stand up and defend those who, time and again, are discriminated against by this UK Tory government. We will continue to be the voice for those who have none.” 

In the 2014 referendum, many people who avoid paying council tax suddenly showed back up on the system. Having spent years refusing to pay, these people were encouraged to vote having been granted immunity. Millions of pounds which should have been paid to councils to keep services running were never collected. So, what happened to these people who cheated the system after the vote in 2014? I would venture that they simply dropped back off the system and refused to pay their council tax. The people who live in flats as tenants, they didn't get that luxury, so basically we are looking at people in employment or who stay with others who hold democracy in contempt. They don't care about 'gaming' the council system which is another reason why this country is in such a mess. 

The Scottish Greens said Boris Johnson and the Conservatives seemed “desperate to stop people exercising their democratic right, as they have done with their attitude towards Scotland having a say over our future.” 

Patrick Harvie, the party’s co-leader, added: 

“The plans for voter ID is a blatant pitch for voter suppression among those who are more likely to vote this government out.” 

If there is an argument of being right or wrong, Patrick Harvie has a track record of mostly being on the wrong side. Wrong on Scottish independence, wrong on Brexit, wrong on Trump, wrong on the Gender Recognition Act, wrong on women's rights, you name it this odious wee character is the guy pissing into the wind. In this recent Scottish election, the Greens increased their number of seats at Holyrood. You could argue that the Scottish Greens aren't a Green Party, they spent their time it seems talking about independence, homosexual and trans rights, when they do talk about Green issues, it is almost worthy of a news programme on the fact they have actually talked about the environment . The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 

"We think showing identification to vote is a reasonable approach to combat the inexcusable potential for voter fraud." 

He added that a free "local voter card" would be available to those who do not have other forms of ID. So, it seems that the Conservatives have actually worked the problem to stymie the objections from people like the SNP and Scottish Greens. You won't it seems have to get the free card, you could use your driving licence or current passport, so let's get this idea off the drawing board and into production. The issue of postal ballots should also be addressed because this is another area of concern. 

The PM's spokesperson also added: 

“Everyone wants to maintain the integrity of our democracy and this would bring us in line with not only Northern Ireland but countries such as Canada, many European countries including France, the Netherlands, Sweden – all require a form of identification to vote. ” 

Finally, altering voting franchises to "rig" the vote is and always will be unacceptable, it was a mistake to allow voting franchise to be devolved from Westminster, but the damage has been done. Those who were granted amnesty for not paying council tax are part of the reason why our democracy is failing in Scotland. People have to play by the rules, and these who game the system, who cheat the rest of society out of vital finance to run services, and in particular services for the  most vulnerable should be brought to book. It is laughable that SNP MP Kristen Oswald should say that Boris Johnson should “follow Scotland’s lead” when the SNP Government refused to chase after and recover public funds owed to it by individuals whose selfishness and greed is causing the breakdown of our society. Part of the Nolan Principles for conduct in public live is integrity, honesty and leadership, the leadership displayed none of those characteristics when those who cheated the system were allowed to vote. People have a duty to vote, I would still like to see voting made mandatory in the UK, it would force politicians to raise the game and put them under constant pressure to perform. And if everyone is forced to play by the rules, how can that not be democratic?

Yours sincerely 

George Laird                                                                                                                                The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University