‘The Department for Work and Pensions has unlawfully told “significant” numbers of people who legitimately claimed universal credit at the start of the pandemic to repay money often totalling thousands of pounds, a charity has claimed.’
The Guardian, 13th November 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The Home Office must rethink its “regressive and unethical” plans to use scientific methods such X-rays to age assess asylum seekers, a coalition of children’s charities has warned.’
The Independent, 1st November 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The UK government’s Election Bill containing controversial Voter ID provisions is progressing with haste through parliament this month, despite significant alarm over its potential impact. Whilst the government claims the bill will increase ballot security, all evidence points to these proposals being harmful to voter access and electoral integrity as the US experience demonstrates.’
Oxford Human Rights Hub, 18th October 2021
Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk
‘The Elections Bill 2021, as of the date of publication for the House of Commons Committee stage, advances a variety of changes to the regulation of elections and the practice of voting in the UK. Of the reforms, one controversially reshapes the practical experience of voting for most citizens. A new voter ID requirement will amend the Representation of the People Act 1983 to require proof of identity, in the form of a photographic ID such as a passport, drivers’ license, or dedicated voter identity document, for in-person voting. While this may seem like a light burden, both the broader impact of such a requirement on voting and the underlying anti-fraud rationale have raised significant concerns.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 29th September 2021
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘A new bill could prevent millions of people from being able to vote, according to a report published by the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR).’
Each Other, 21st September 2021
Source: eachother.org.uk
‘The elections bill, which will be debated in the Commons for the first time on Tuesday, is, according to the government, an ambitious and timely set of plans to ensure elections remain fair and secure. To critics, it is undemocratic and intended to rig elections in favour of the Conservatives. So what does the bill set out?’
The Guardian, 7th September 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants face being blocked from booking Covid vaccinations, it can be revealed, because GP surgeries are refusing to register them – in breach of official guidance.’
The Independent, 16th July 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Controversial plans to require voters to show photo ID at polling stations have been introduced in Parliament.’
BBC News, 5th July 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Millions of voters could be disenfranchised under “discriminatory” plans due to be unveiled on Monday that will force people to carry identification to cast a ballot, Labour has warned.’
The Guardian, 4th July 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘At the annual Queen’s Speech last week, the controversial Electoral Integrity Bill was announced. If passed, it means that voters will need to produce a valid form of photo ID when they cast their vote. The government rationale behind the legislation is to secure trust and prevent fraud in UK voting systems. It is thought the legislation will be in place by next year. Despite being routinely practiced in many countries, including Northern Ireland and the United States, this type of legislation has been criticised for deterring voters and, more problematically, disenfranchising poorer, minority and elderly voters. This is due to the fact that procuring approved forms of identification can be expensive and time consuming.’
Each Other, 20th May 2021
Source: eachother.org.uk
‘Requiring voters to prove their identity by presenting photo ID at polling stations risks infringing electors’ right to vote freely and fairly.’
Each Other, 11th May 2021
Source: eachother.org.uk
‘The supreme court is to hear a challenge to the government’s decision to hold voter ID trials in 2019 in a case that could have implications for the wider rollout of the scheme.’
The Guardian, 18th March 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Changing the law to force people to show photo ID to take part in UK elections will be catastrophic for ethnic minority communities, increasing barriers to access and in effect disenfranchising them, equality and democracy campaigners have warned.’
The Guardian, 9th March 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The Administrative Court has ruled that a man was entitled to refuse to give his name and address to a police officer who wanted to issue a fixed penalty notice for breach of lockdown regulations.’
Local Government Lawyer, 24th February 2021
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘A Midlands firm which wrongly rated three property transactions as low risk has been fined £14,000 for breaching anti-money laundering rules.’
Law Society's Gazette, 24th November 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The Government’s announcement that eleven local authorities across England would be taking part in voter ID pilots for the 2019 local elections was controversial. There is a heated debate as to whether citizens should have to provide photo identification before receiving their ballot at elections. For some, it is a straight-forward measure to avoid the risk of fraud. For others, it is a policy that, by design or inadvertently, leads to the disenfranchisement of certain groups.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 9th June 2020
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
‘The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in an appeal over a High Court ruling last year that voter ID schemes in 10 local authorities were lawful.’
Local Government Lawyer, 24th April 2020
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘Pilot schemes requiring voters to produce photo ID at polling stations disenfranchise those who do not have or cannot find their documents and alienate people from the democratic process, the court of appeal has been told.’
The Guardian, 23rd April 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Police involvement in a private landlord’s facial recognition trial has led a regulator to call for government intervention.’
BBC News, 28th January 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
© Inner Temple Library 2021