Richard Tice claims he's seen people carrying ‘bags and bags' of postal votes to a polling station
Describing Reform UK's opposition against giving 16 and 17-year-olds the vote at the next general election, the party's deputy leader said they have "grave concerns about the risks to security and the risks of impersonation of postal voting."
Responding, democracy minister Rushanara Ali reassured Mr Tice: "Personating another voter is a deliberate act of fraud. It completely undermines our democracy and is a serious criminal offence that will continue to be prosecuted. If he has examples, he should report them to the police."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
3 minutes ago
- The Independent
Top Tory says 16-year-olds shouldn't vote because it will ‘distract them from exams'
A senior Tory has warned 16 and 17-year olds should not be allowed to vote because it will distract them from their exams. Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho said if the voting age is lowered teenagers, will face choosing between focusing on their studies or 'staying up to watch political debates'. The senior MP said elections are often in May, June and July and warned pupils do not need 'this added pressure of being dragged into politics '. The voting age is to be lowered to 16 in time for the next election, the government has announced in a move that would allow around 1.5 million more teenagers to cast a ballot. The change will bring UK-wide elections in line with Scotland and Wales by the time the country next goes to the polls, due by the summer of 2029 at the latest. The 'seismic' development, which is part of a raft of measures set to be introduced through a new Elections Bill, is the biggest change to the electorate since 1969 when the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18. Keir Starmer encouraged 16 and 17 year olds to use their vote at next election. No 10 said the PM would 'absolutely encourage them to be as engaged as they can be in the future of their country'. Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner said: 'For too long public trust in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline. 'We are taking action to break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in UK democracy… and delivering on our manifesto commitment to give 16-year-olds the right to vote.' Sixteen-year-olds already work, pay taxes and serve in the military, ministers point out. But, speaking to Times Radio, Ms Coutinho said: 'Can you imagine saying, OK, I've got this right. It's a new right. I've got exam season coming up, but maybe I should stay up to watch this political debate. 'Maybe I should be out there campaigning. Personally, I think 18 is the right age. I have no problem with politicians wanting to compete for younger votes…but I don't think you have a massive difference between 18 and 16. And like I say, most 16, 17 year olds are going to be in exam season. And I just don't think it is the right thing for them.' She added: 'The thing that I worry about and I might be speaking as a new mum is that it's exam season; elections are often in May, June, July and I don't really think 16 and 17 year olds need this added pressure of being dragged into politics.'
The Independent
3 minutes ago
- The Independent
UK sanctions Russian spies who ‘targeted Britain in sustained campaign'
Britain has hit more than a dozen Russian spies with a wave of sanctions, targeting those it accused of running a 'sustained campaign' of malicious activity against the UK. The Foreign Office named 18 officers from Russian spy agency the GRU, as well as hitting three of its units with measures aimed at cracking down on Vladimir Putin's increasing aggression abroad. It said the military intelligence officers targeted were 'responsible for spreading chaos and disorder on Putin's orders', and included those who had targeted the family of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal. The officers sanctioned had targeted a device belonging to Mr Skripal's daughter Yulia with malicious malware known as X-Agent five years before GRU attempted to murder them in Salisbury with the deadly Novichok nerve agent. The units are also accused of conducting a prolonged campaign of cyberattacks across Europe, including in Britain, aimed at destabilising the continent and undermining democratic institutions. 'GRU spies are running a campaign to destabilise Europe, undermine Ukraine 's sovereignty and threaten the safety of British citizens," Foreign Secretary David Lammy said. He added: 'The Kremlin should be in no doubt: we see what they are trying to do in the shadows and we won't tolerate it. That's why we're taking decisive action with sanctions against Russian spies.' On 15 March 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, Unit 26165 carried out online reconnaissance on civilian bomb shelters in Mariupol, southern Ukraine and in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry said. One of the targets was the Mariupol theatre. Civilians sheltering inside from Russian bombs had painted the word 'children' outside in the hopes they would be spared. But the next day, the theatre was hit by Russian airstrikes, killing about 600 people, including children, according to an Associated Press investigation. In 2013, officers from the same unit had targeted the daughter of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal with malware, designed to harm or infiltrate computer systems, the foreign ministry said. In 2018, Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok in the English city of Salisbury, in an attack the British government said was organised by Russian intelligence. The sanctions also targeted the Africa Initiative, which the Foreign Ministry said employed Russian intelligence officers to carry out information operations in Africa, including undermining public health programs and destabilising various countries. Russia's campaign of sabotage and disruption across Europe ranges from cyberattacks and propaganda to arson and attempted assassination. Mr Lammy said: 'Putin's hybrid threats and aggression will never break our resolve. The UK and our allies' support for Ukraine and Europe's security is ironclad.' More than 70 different attacks have been attributed to Russia by Western officials since the invasion. The military intelligence units sanctioned Friday also targeted foreign aid to Kyiv, ports, infrastructure and border crossings as well as technology companies, the Foreign Ministry said. Although targeting GRU officers with sanctions is likely to have limited effect, the ministry said the goal is to raise awareness of Russia's campaign and raise the cost to people working for its services, including making it harder for them to travel.
The Independent
3 minutes ago
- The Independent
Why three concert-goers are suing Royal Albert Hall for £500,000
Three long-standing Royal Albert Hall seat holders have launched a High Court lawsuit against the venue's corporation, seeking over £500,000 in damages. Arthur George and William and Alexander Stockler allege the Royal Albert Hall has "unlawfully" deprived them of their rights to their seats by excluding them from more performances than its rules permit. Their legal representatives are asking a judge to declare the exclusion practice unlawful, grant an injunction, and award an interim payment of £500,000. The Royal Albert Hall corporation opposes the application, arguing the case should proceed to trial. The corporation also suggests the claimants' complaints are linked to "various financial matters" and that they consented to or acquiesced in the granting of additional exclusive lets.
