PRESS RELEASE ON THE ELECTIONS BILL

CAMPAIGNERS VOW TO CONTINUE UNPRECEDENTED GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT THAT FOUGHT ELECTIONS BILL

Campaigners have pledged to campaign to reverse the anti-democratic measures enacted in the government’s Elections Bill, following its final passage tonight. 

The new law will require voters to show photographic ID at polling stations, gives government a greater say in how the elections watchdog is run, changes the voting system for mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner elections, and leaves UK politics open to corruption via overseas donations.

Campaigning organisations representing hundreds of thousands of people came together in the Democracy Defence Coalition to oppose the Bill. They have pledged to work to persuade politicians to roll back the measures in this unprecedented legislation.

Kyle Taylor, spokesperson for the Democracy Defence Coalition, said, “Our organisations joined forces to oppose this grim legislation because it was such a full frontal attack on democratic norms.

“It’s a travesty that parliamentarians passed a Bill that erodes our precious democracy.

“This is a dark day for democracy. The system is now rigged in favour of the government of the day, who will now dictate the Electoral Commission’s strategy, destroying its independence.

“This follows a sequence of actions from an actively anti-democratic government who have, in the last week, banned ‘noisy’ protest, made plans to strip people of citizenship without notice and are now undermining the integrity of elections themselves.

“Just because the Elections Bill is now law, it doesn’t mean the argument is won or the debate is over. Democracy is a process, not an event.

“The fight to restore our democracy starts now and our coalition will be leading that fight.”

Tom Brake, Director of Unlock Democracy added, “We are on a slippery slope when the Government takes powers to control the supposedly independent elections’ watchdog. This shouldn’t be happening in a democracy.”

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The Democracy Defence Coalition was formed in 2021, and is made up of a range of organisations concerned with protecting democracy including the Electoral Reform Society, Open Britain, Fair Vote, Unlock Democracy, Hands Off Our Vote and Best for Britain. More information about the Democracy Defence Coalition can be found on its website:https://www.democracydefence.org/