Downing Street rejects council leaders' plea to delay forcing voters to show ID

No10 has rejected calls from council leaders to delay controversial Tory plans to force the public to show photo ID at polling booths.

It comes as the Liberal Democrats attempt to kill off the proposals on Tuesday using a rare "fatal motion" in the House of Lords.

The party is seeking to block the Government from introducing the "devious and damaging" voter ID regulations at the local elections in May 2023.

Over the weekend the Local Government Association urged ministers to delay the introduction of the changes.

Chairman and councillor James Jamieson raised concerns that there is "insufficient time" to prepare for changes "without risking access to the vote".

He also highlighted issues over new IT systems and "being able to test these and ensure staff receive training".

Earlier this month the Electoral Commission also admitted it had "fundamental concerns" over the timetable of the multi-million pound policy.

Voters in some areas took part in ID trials in 2018 (PA)

The electoral watchdog privately issued the warning over the summer telling ministers plans were not "fully secure" or "workable".

But the Prime Minister's official spokesperson said on Monday: "I don't believe there are any plans to delay its introduction.

"We think it is right to ensure we have protections in place for the potential of voter fraud and bring the UK in line with Northern Ireland, which has had photo ID to vote in elections since 2003."

Baroness Pinnock, the Liberal Democrat peer who has tabled the fatal motion, said her party will "fight tooth and nail" against the plans.

She said it will "make it far more difficult for people to vote - just as we saw in Trump’s America".

The peer added: “We are opposing these plans to disenfranchise thousands and thousands of people from every background.

"We will oppose it in the strongest possible way, by forcing a vote in both Houses of Parliament.

“The Government must drop this devious and damaging plan.”

But the Liberal Democrats' motion is highly unlikely to pass the Lords as it does not have Labour's support, a source told The Mirror.

Instead, Labour is seeking to pass a "regret motion" over the voter ID plans.

If passed the amendment would establish a Lords Committee to examine the impact of the policy on May's local elections.