Labour, the Lib Dems and electoral reform

‘Up to 8 million people legally entitled to vote were kept off the voting registers with little attempt to enrol them.’ Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

Martin Kettle is right when he praises the electoral achievements of Labour and the Liberal Democrats this year (Working together, Labour and the Lib Dems could exile the Tories for a generation, 19 September). The scale of success for both parties is even more remarkable given the many ways in which the Conservatives manipulated electoral rules in their favour.

Up to 8 million people legally entitled to vote were kept off the voting registers, with little attempt to enrol them. The introduction of photo ID was a deliberate attempt at voter suppression. Party spending limits were suddenly raised by 80%, allowing the Conservatives to benefit from a total of £20m from Frank Hester.