Tom Watson's fury over Government's voter ID plan
Government plans to introduce photographic ID for voters in elections have been branded "clearly discriminatory" by Tom Watson.
The Labour deputy leader said the plans were a "blatant" attempt to take the vote away from poorer people and young and elderly voters.
It comes after new data showed there had been 182 allegations of electoral fraud at UK polling stations in the last decade, including five cases in the West Midlands.
Out of more than 44 million votes cast in 2017, there was one conviction resulting from 28 allegations of polling station voter fraud.
The number of allegations fell to eight in 2018, with one resulting in a conviction.
Sandwell had one allegation of voter fraud in 10 years.
Tom Watson, the MP for West Bromwich East, said: "These figures show there is no problem with polling station fraud here in Sandwell.
"The Government’s plan to force people to bring ID with them in order to be able to vote is a blatant attempt to stop poorer people, minorities and groups without ID from voting.
"The Tories are trying to rig the election by stopping people voting. Labour will not allow the Tories to shut down our democracy by making it harder for people in Sandwell to vote. We’ve got to stop this plan."
The Government proposals follow a 2016 report on electoral integrity and could see all voters obliged to show official photo ID to polling stations in order to be able to cast their vote.
The Electoral Commission says that across the country around 3.5 million citizens do not have access to any photo ID, with 11 million citizens lacking a passport or driving license.
Meanwhile the new legislation would make further changes, including allowing carers to assist voters at polling stations, and place a requirement on returning officers to improve accessibility.
Ministers have also proposed tightening the rules on postal vote collection, by bringing in new measures requiring voters to re-register every three years if they want to vote by mail.
