Nick Smith MP Labour MP for Blaenau Gwent
For a full video of the Westminster Hall debate led by Nick Smith, click here
The UK Government is undermining democracy with its “rushed” move to a new system to register people for elections, Blaenau Gwent Labour MP Nick Smith has warned.
Mr Smith fears that large numbers of people in traditional Labour-voting areas will fall off the rolls.
He is concerned that this could mean that when the electoral map is redrawn the size of constituencies will not reflect the number of people really living in these areas. The MP warned that this could mean that constituencies do not get the support they deserve.
Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate he secured, he said: “The point is we need to use more good and accurate databases to increase voter registration to protect and build our democracy. [The] Government is rushing the introduction of Individual Electoral Registration (IER).
“Next year’s elections are very important and the boundaries for future constituencies will rely on an accurate register. The Government says it wants to boost our democracy but this action undermines it.”
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