Representation of the People Bill

Public Bill Committee, 18 March 2026.

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Before we begin, I remind Members to please switch electronic devices to silent. Tea and coffee are not allowed during the sittings. We will first consider the programme motion on the amendment paper, then a motion to enable the reporting of written evidence for publication, and a motion to allow the Committee to deliberate in private about questions before the oral evidence sessions. In view of the time available, I hope that we can take these matters formally—without debate.

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Copies of written evidence that the Committee receives will be made available in the Committee Room.

Examination of Witnesses

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Before we start, do any Members wish to declare any interests in connection with the Bill?

Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat, Hazel Grove)

I know some of the witnesses through non-parliamentary activity. When they sit down, I will explain to the Committee my connection to them.

David Simmonds (Conservative, Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)

I declare that I am an unpaid parliamentary vice-president of the Local Government Association, which has supplied one of the witnesses for this panel.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

In the interests of transparency, I have met various witnesses in other settings in my official capacity as shadow Minister.

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

We now hear oral evidence from the Association of Electoral Administrators, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers, and the Local Government Association. As I have said, we must stick to the timings in the programme order that the Committee has agreed. For this session, we have until 10.05 am. As I have indicated, Ms Yule is on her way and will join us as soon as she is here, but we are very pleased that Councillor Bentley and Mr Stanyon have been able to join us at this point. Would you both please introduce yourselves? I will then open the meeting to questions from the Committee.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Good morning and welcome. First, thank you for what you do for all of us; without electoral administrators none of us would be here, so thank you, Mr Stanyon. The Government have set out from a very early stage that they want to make the electoral system easier and want more people to be enlisted on the roll.

My first question is a very broad one for both of you. Have the Government given you enough time to prepare for the changes proposed in the legislation? Secondly, the Government propose bringing in automatic registration. Can you outline some of the challenges or problems that might result from that? Thirdly—to get my questions out of the way—there are proposals to allow, for example, bank cards and non-photographic identification as voter ID at the polling station. As the chief executive of the Association of Electoral Administrators, do you have a concern about that? Do you perceive that the secure ballot process could be harmed as a result of those changes?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Councillor Bentley, because you are a leader of a council and you are responsible for a number of staff on polling day, I value your opinion on the voter ID question. Mr Stanyon, would you like to answer the voter ID question? Then we will go to Councillor Bentley.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Thank you. This will be my final question. In the old system, our polling cards at least had our full names on them. There was a question about that, which is why we Conservatives supported voter ID and photographic ID. There was a reason why we brought in that legislation: theoretically, somebody could take a polling card from their next door neighbour and be able to vote at the ballot box. It is our contention that the bank card proposal provides a less secure way to vote than even a polling card. Councillor Bentley, do you agree with that, and can you give me your thoughts on the proposals concerning voter ID?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q I have a brief question in relation to something that was said. We agree that the bank card proposals are flawed, so we have tabled amendment 30. I do not expect you to know what that amendment is, and I am about to tell you: it would ensure that only

“bank cards that are issued subject to a search of a consumer’s credit file conducted in the way set out in the amendment”

could be used as voter ID, as we do with loans and the like. We understand that it is not a brilliant amendment, because we do not believe that that part of the legislation should be included at all, but do you think that having a bank card with a hard credit check would make any difference to the process, or—this is probably for you, Mr Stanyon—would it be better if that was not included in the legislation?

Samantha Dixon (Labour, Chester North and Neston)

Q As may be obvious, I have met most of our witnesses today previously. Where in the Bill do you think things will improve, and what do you see as measures that will make our elections more effective?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Q Following your arrival, Ms Yule, would you like to introduce yourself?

Samantha Dixon (Labour, Chester North and Neston)

Q Nice to see you, Emily, and welcome. How do you feel the Bill will improve elections and make them more secure for the future?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Mr Holmes, did you want to ask Ms Yule anything? I will then come to Ms Smart.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Thank you, Chair; that is very kind of you.

Welcome, Ms Yule. The other witnesses would argue that the Government’s intention is to make voting easier and extend the franchise. I put to you the question I asked them earlier: do you consider that local authorities and chief executives have been consulted enough at this stage—notwithstanding the fact that the Bill has to go through its passage—about the proposals in the legislation? Are there burdens that you are not quite sure you can meet yet on behalf of your members?

Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat, Hazel Grove)

Q I am an unpaid honorary vice president of the Local Government Association; as a former councillor, I am delighted that we are hearing from the LGA.

I have two strands of questioning; one is around timing. The Bill proposes some changes around postal votes and bringing forward the dates for postal votes. We have seen too many people miss out on their opportunity to vote because of some of the issues relating to Royal Mail that you talked about, Mr Stanyon. That is particularly acute with those living overseas for a time, whether they are serving in the armed forces or otherwise.

We all welcome the bringing forward of the dates, but can you say a little more about how many of those issues will be addressed by changing the dates for postal votes? Are there other measures—for example, allowing people to print their own ballot papers or to submit their vote at overseas embassies or consulates—that you would see as useful in enabling more people to vote?

Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat, Hazel Grove)

Q My second question is picking up on Ms Yule’s point about harassment. It is a very good thing to bring electoral staff into the consideration of that; I think everybody sensible would agree.

From my experience of being involved in elections, there is sometimes a lack of clarity on who to go to with problems—is it the RO or the police? Is there a uniformity in how the law is enforced? Different police forces have different experiences or resourcing levels when it comes to pursuing somebody breaking election law. Can you talk about how you see the Bill addressing any of those issues or about areas where you think it could have gone further or been clearer?

David Simmonds (Conservative, Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)

Q There are two areas I would like to explore briefly. We heard a lot from the local government family about the chaos created by elections being cancelled, then uncancelled, and so on. Part 3 of the Bill includes a number of provisions to change the arrangements for elections. We heard about police needing to be put on the rota, then cancelled, then put back on again and schools needing to close, then reopen, then close again because polling was going ahead and then not. What are your reflections on the timeline, the consequences of those changes and the considerations that go with that?

Secondly, new clause 37 is about the provision and use of election materials in non-UK languages. We heard a great deal about that in the recent Gorton and Denton by-election, when cross-party concern was expressed. What should the Bill say? Should that new clause be part of it? Do you have an alternative body of evidence suggesting that a different approach is required?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Ms Chowns, we only have three minutes left, so I may not be able to come to others. Please be brief.

Ellie Chowns (Green, North Herefordshire)

Mr Bentley, I was really struck that you said twice in your answers that anything that makes voting easier for people has to be a good thing and should be supported. Mr Stanyon and Ms Yule, do you agree?Q

Ellie Chowns (Green, North Herefordshire)

Mr Bentley, having made that statement, do you agree that automatic voter registration makes it easier for people to participate in the democratic process?Q

Ellie Chowns (Green, North Herefordshire)

To be clear, automatic voter registration is not compulsory voting; it simply makes people more able to vote. It is not forcing them to vote at all, so it would be a mistake to conflate the two.Q

Ellie Chowns (Green, North Herefordshire)

Voter ID has clearly made it harder for people to vote—tens of thousands of people have been prevented from casting their vote in recent years—and it was introduced on the basis of virtually no evidence of cases of personation. Do you agree that the cost to people’s capacity to participate in the voting system from the introduction of voter ID far outweighs its argued benefits, and therefore there should be no voter ID requirement?Q

Ellie Chowns (Green, North Herefordshire)

Q Thank you. Mr Stanyon, are you concerned about the effect of voter ID on the exclusion of people from voting?

Ellie Chowns (Green, North Herefordshire)

And—

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Order. That brings us to the end of the time allotted for the Committee to ask questions of these witnesses. On behalf of the Committee, I thank the witnesses for their evidence and for their efforts in getting here this morning.

Examination of Witness

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

We will now hear oral evidence from the Electoral Commission. Again, we must stick to the timings in the sittings motion that the Committee has agreed. For this session, we have until 10.25 am. If anyone wants to ask our witness a question, it would be helpful if they indicated that early, because then I am more likely to be able to come to you and keep things moving. Could the witness identify himself for the Committee?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Thank you for coming this morning. There are many questions that I want to ask the Electoral Commission on the Bill, because you are intrinsically involved in ensuring that it will be delivered on at the end of the day, but I want to focus on election finance and campaign finance.

What is your view, as far as you are able to give it, on the fact that the Government have gone forward with landmark and quite detailed legislation, but at the same time have asked Philip Rycroft to conduct a review of campaign finance and foreign interference, which bears no resemblance to what the Government are proposing during this legislative process? Have you made representations to the Government that this legislation should be paused until we have the conclusions of Dr Rycroft’s review?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Thank you for that answer. A couple of amendments have been tabled. I do not expect you to be aware of every amendment, but one is on the idea of strengthening digital imprints— digital identity—and having a repository for digital campaign communications. That amendment, proposed by Emily Darlington, does not list an organisation that would be responsible for storing that data or an organisation that would have responsibility for where it goes afterwards.

Could you give us your thoughts, if you have any, on the idea of a digital repository and whether there would be a role for the Electoral Commission, as the regulator, in ensuring that that information is passed on and the provisions are enforced?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q One more question—

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Briefly, because we are very tight for time.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

You will have noticed some scepticism from the previous panel—I do not think it is ungenerous to say that—about the proposals for using bank cards as a form of identification. In your role, do you have concerns about the Government’s proposals to water down photo voter ID?

Samantha Dixon (Labour, Chester North and Neston)

Q We work very closely with the Electoral Commission, but you act without fear or favour. It is important for your independence to be respected and for your objectivity as an organisation to be carried forward for the future. In your objective view, how will the proposals in the Bill progress the security of and participation in elections?

Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat, Hazel Grove)

Q I should declare that I am a member of the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission. You have already answered one of my questions, which was about profit being a better measure than turnover for companies donating, so I will not ask you about that.

The Electoral Commission’s press release in response to the publication of the Bill said—I cannot remember the exact phrasing—that the Bill was welcome but that it did not go quite far enough, and that the commission would like to see more measures to tackle issues with where we are in our democracy. Trust in politics is at a very low level, and trust in our democracy is an important element in our democracy remaining legitimate and in our having the trust and faith of the electorate. What more would you like to see the Bill do to rebuild trust in politics?

Sojan Joseph (Labour, Ashford)

I want to ask a question about foreign donations. The Bill seeks to ensure that any company making political donations must be able to demonstrate that it has a genuine connection to the UK. Do you believe that that will be sufficient to prevent foreign-linked entities from donating to political parties?Q

Lewis Cocking (Conservative, Broxbourne)

I would like to talk about the 8 million people you reckon are not registered. Some of those people might choose not to register to vote, and the Government’s intention in the Bill is to bring in automatic voter registration. Do you Q see any issues with that if they are not all automatically registered for the same general election? For example, if four million are automatically registered before the next general election, and four million are not, you could argue that there are two different sets of electors, with one being easier to register and one being harder. Can you comment on that?

Lewis Cocking (Conservative, Broxbourne)

Q May I briefly follow that up? Is it your opinion, then, that if we are going to have automatic voter registration, everyone should be automatically registered for the same general election?

Lloyd Hatton (Labour, South Dorset)

Good morning. The Bill rightly tries to tighten up our defences against the impact of overseas interference in our democratic process. That includes the measure in the Bill to limit company donations based on the company’s annual revenue.Q

I have a slight concern that that might leave the door ajar to the likes of Elon Musk making a donation to a British political party legitimately via a UK subsidiary company, for example. In the light of that, the Committee on Standards in Public Life suggested that the limit on donations from companies should be tied to their profit rather than their revenue. Which of the two would be a more effective way to stop the international financing of our political parties and democratic process?

Lloyd Hatton (Labour, South Dorset)

Finally, very quickly—

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Order. I am afraid we have reached the end of this panel. To be clear, I did not set the timings. We thank the witness for his evidence. We have to move on to our next witness.

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Q Once again, we must stick to the timings in the programme order, as agreed. For this panel, we have until 10.45 am. I ask the witness to introduce herself for the record.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Good morning, and welcome to the Committee. Thank you for submitting your very comprehensive evidence note, which I had the pleasure of reading—I am one of those people who like reading about election law. There is a theme to my questions this morning, Mr Mundell.

Dr Garland, you identified in your evidence that you are in favour of relaxing voter ID from requiring photographic identification, and you cited a Cabinet Office report, “Securing the ballot”, which suggested including bank cards, signatures and date of birth checks. Could you elaborate on what, in your opinion, date of birth checks would look like for a person volunteering at a polling station? Could you explain to the Committee why you do not think that going from photographic ID to bank cards would relax security around someone being able to vote?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q It could also be argued that if you cannot prove that there has been an increase or decrease in the amount of personation, the system is working, couldn’t it?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Thank you for that. May I challenge you—not challenge, but ask you; I am not a challenger—to elaborate on the 42,000 number? The Electoral Commission reported—this is in footnote 13 of your evidence; it may be that I have not understood the wording, which is perfectly possible—that in 2024, 16,000 electors attempted, but were unable, to vote due to the voter ID requirement. You have put that that equates to one in every 1,200 voters. In the May ’24 local and mayoral elections, the figure was 13,000. Where did you get the 42,000?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q So that is a cumulative figure; it is not a figure from a major national poll, the 2024 general election.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

I agree, but that is 0.1% of the total electorate. Briefly, Chair, may I ask about bank cards?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Briefly.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q I am sorry to keep focusing on this point, but can you explain to the Committee how you would deem bank cards to be more secure than someone just turning up with a polling card, as they used to under the old system?

Samantha Dixon (Labour, Chester North and Neston)

Q In the strategy that the Government published last year, we set out that our electoral system is not keeping pace with an ever-changing world. How will the Bill bring us forward and keep us up to date?

Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat, Hazel Grove)

Q For the record, Dr Garland and I used to be fellow trustees on a charity for a number of years. [Interruption.] No, I do not know every witness, but it is not far off.

In page 7 of your written evidence, Dr Garland, you talk about new clause 1, tabled in my name, on the voting system. That is something that affects a number of people, in the context of the changing landscape that you just laid out. We had the most disproportionate election ever in 2024, with a party that got a third of the votes getting two thirds of the seats and pretty much 100% of the power. Will you say a little more and expand on the comments you made about why a voting system change would better reflect the situation in which we find ourselves in 2026 and beyond?

Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat, Hazel Grove)

Q So the position of the Electoral Reform Society would be that a change to a more proportionate system would better reflect the current situation and would improve trust in politics?

Andrew Lewin (Labour, Welwyn Hatfield)

Good morning, Dr Garland. We had a sharp fall in turnout at the last general election, and we have already spoken this morning about 8 million people not being registered. I support the principle of automatic voter registration, but I am keen to talk in a little bit more detail about how we would pilot this, because the Bill makes provision for pilots. I am interested in your take on what information we would need to undergo a pilot, and how quickly that could be established and up and running.Q

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

We have eight minutes, so short questions and short answers, please.

Ellie Chowns (Green, North Herefordshire)

Q I would like to ask your view on several things under the heading of political finance and disinformation. On political finance, could you comment on the benefits of a ban on crypto donations, on the potential benefits of a cap on individual donations, and on the potential benefits of an annual spending cap—not just a cap on spending during the regulated period—to avoid gaming of the system? On disinformation, do you think the Bill does enough to tackle disinformation?

Perhaps you could comment on proposals for an advert repository and for a ban on deepfakes. Do you think that a ban on deepfakes needs to operate not just during the regulated period, but also outside it?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

A short question from you, Mr Rushworth.

Sam Rushworth (Labour, Bishop Auckland)

I want to go back and get your views on the use of bank cards. You have talked about the 16,000 people who showed up to vote but were unable to, and no one has ever canvassed without finding, about every hour, someone Q who that has happened to. There have only been three convictions, however, for electoral fraud. Clearly, we have to get the balance right, but do you feel that the Bill does get that balance right?

Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat, Guildford)

For transparency, I met Dr Garland along with various other democracy organisations prior to this Bill Committee. My questions are about how we make our democracy more representative. In your view, to what extent does the fact that the access to elected office fund no longer exists mean that those who are from more diverse backgrounds or have a disability cannot access standing for election?Q

Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat, Guildford)

Q On that note, I have tabled an amendment about that exact thing—section 106—which specifically asks for the Electoral Commission to be the repository. Do you think that having a centralised hub would be particularly helpful, because it would allow us to look at the data, identify where the issues are and act on that?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

We have 90 seconds for your question, Laura Kyrke-Smith, and the reply.

Laura Kyrke-Smith (Labour, Aylesbury)

I think that you have welcomed votes at 16 as a major opportunity for democratic renewal, and I agree. I hope that the Bill will make it not only possible for 16 and 17-year-olds to vote, but as easy as possible. Can you say more about how the Bill will do thatQ ?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Good; we even have time for you, Mr Hatton.

Lloyd Hatton (Labour, South Dorset)

Q Quickly, what is your analysis of the current landscape when it comes to the perhaps undue impact of corporate political donations, and how do you think this Bill will seek to change the landscape, ideally for the better?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Order. That brings us to the end of the time allocated for the Committee to ask questions. I thank you, Dr Garland, on behalf of the Committee for your evidence.

Examination of witnesses

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Q We will now hear oral evidence online from the Electoral Management Board of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Wales, the Electoral Management Board for Scotland and the Scottish Assessors Association. Once again, we must stick to the timings in the programme motion that the Committee has agreed. We have until 11.25 am for this session. Will the witnesses introduce themselves for the record?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Before I call Mr Holmes, it would be helpful if everyone asking questions indicated whether the question is for all the witnesses or an individual witness.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Good morning, all. I feel like I am at Eurovision—“This is London calling.” Thank you for being here today. I have two general questions. Karen, the Government are proposing changing the electoral registration system to a system of automatic registration. Having been through that activity in Wales for Welsh elections, can you give a brief overview of the lessons and the challenges that Wales experienced in implementing that? Do you have any advice for the UK Government on doing that seamlessly through the passage of this legislation?

My second question is a general question on votes at 16. The Government made a manifesto commitment to reduce the voting age to 16. Can our Scottish colleagues give an overview of the experience of advertising that and making sure to get maximum efficiency and registration before the first crucial elections at 16? What advice would you give the UK Government to make sure we get maximum registration and participation from a section of voters that has not had the vote for many years in England? Malcolm and Robert, maybe you can divide that question between you.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q That is perfectly reasonable, thank you. Ms Jones, before we come to Mr Nicol and Mr Burr, can you talk briefly about your experience of ensuring that the roll has remained accurate since the automatic voter registration pilots? I will then come on to the second question, Mr Burr and Mr Nicol.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Granted the numbers were small, but did I not read—it may not have been in your feedback; it could have been from the Electoral Reform Society—that, for accuracy, there were 17 voters removed in the pilots in Powys and 16 in another location, which I cannot pronounce?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Mr Burr and Mr Nicol, could you give a brief overview on votes at 16? Then others can come in and ask their questions.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Mr Nicol, do you want to say anything?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Thank you all for your answers.

Samantha Dixon (Labour, Chester North and Neston)

Q It has been a pleasure to work with the devolved Administrations in the interministerial work that I have done. Also, the officials have worked across all the Governments in the UK, which has been very productive. All of you have mentioned alignment, and that is an ambition that the Government have set out in this Bill. To what degree have we achieved that, and where could we go further?

Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat, Hazel Grove)

Q There are different voting systems in different parts of the UK, but we all want participation to be as high as possible, and we all want trust in our politics and our electoral system to be as high as possible. Do you have any reflections on the different systems that you operate with for different elections, and on the impact those systems have on trust in politics, participation in politics and keeping confusion to a minimum?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Mr Nicol, do you want to say anything?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Q We will leave that there, then. Ms Jones?

Katrina Murray (Labour, Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch)

IQ very much welcome the panel’s expertise, particularly in the administration of what are divergent sets of elections. I will pick up on the divergence around voter ID, and the fact that there is no requirement for voter ID at devolved and local government elections, while there is a requirement at Westminster elections. How is the administration of those elections taking place to make sure that that is not a problem, or not much of an issue?

Another aspect I want to pick up on is returning officer guidance, which has moved on the issue around the divergence of voting systems. Mr Burr, would you consider that the decoupling of the local government elections from the Scottish Parliament elections has had an impact on trying to make sure that voters understand what electoral system is being used at the same time?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

I do not think that that was part of Ms Murray’s question. Ms Jones, would you like to add anything?

Ellie Chowns (Green, North Herefordshire)

Q I would like to return to the question of your experience of having the franchise extended to 16 and 17-year-olds, and particularly to the topic of political literacy. You have given a few examples of work there. What conversations are happening nationally to ensure maximum co-ordination and investment in supporting political literacy, particularly with the extension of the franchise? Is there anything further you would like to say on that? Do you feel that the Bill sufficiently addresses the issue, and what lessons can be learned for supporting political literacy among over-18s as well? Is there more to be done in that space, and what has your experience been in that arena?

Sam Rushworth (Labour, Bishop Auckland)

Q One of the key arguments for lowering the voting age to 16 and allowing English 16 and 17-year-olds to have the same voting rights as their Scottish counterparts is that it increases turnout. Is there evidence from Scotland showing a higher turnout among 16 and 17-year olds?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Mr Burr, are you best placed to answer that question?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

You can write to the Committee with that evidence, Mr Burr.

Lewis Cocking (Conservative, Broxbourne)

Q Karen, I have a question for you. You said that in Wales there have been four pilot areas of automatic voter registration. For my benefit and that of the Committee, could you tell us where they were? Were they for council elections? If they were, why did you decide to do them for council elections and not a Senedd election?

Lewis Cocking (Conservative, Broxbourne)

Q If you are going to take those recommendations forward and do automatic voter registration across Wales, it is your view that everyone should be done in the same Senedd election, rather than it being done in two halves, for example?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Mr Burr, I think the Minister wants to say something in response to your response to the previous question.

Samantha Dixon (Labour, Chester North and Neston)

I had the privilege of attending the interministerial Government meeting late last year, and we had a presentation from the University of Glasgow about the effect of voting on the 16-year-olds who first voted in the referendum in 2014. Interestingly, the evidence shows that, compared with previous cohorts, they continued to vote in greater numbers. That evidence was presented at that conference.

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

I will squeeze you in, Mr Joseph, if you are very quick.

Sojan Joseph (Labour, Ashford)

Q Thank you. My question is to Ms Jones. We had many positive outcomes from the automatic registration pilot in Wales. Can you briefly tell us whether you faced any challenges, especially around concerns about adding people’s details automatically without their consent? Have you had any experienceof that?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

I think that would be acceptable to the Committee, Ms Jones. I thank our witnesses for their evidence and for managing the technology so ably. That brings us to the end of our morning session.

Examination of Witnesses

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

We will now hear evidence from the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland and the Electoral Commission Northern Ireland. We have until 2.25 pm for this panel. Will the witnesses introduce themselves for the record?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Good afternoon. Thank you for joining us this afternoon, Mr Hughes and Mr Marshall, and thank you for what you do in your professional roles.Q56

I have two general questions. You obviously have a unique set of experiences in running elections in Northern Ireland. In some ways, in Northern Ireland you have had, for a long time, some regulatory changes that the Government would say we are only just catching up with, and I think that is a fair assessment. Starting with Mr Hughes, given your experience of running elections with voter identification in Northern Ireland, what is your view of the proposal to add bank cards to the list of accepted identification in the rest of the United Kingdom? Are you concerned that it will create a divergence from the elections that you run and your current guidelines?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Most of our witnesses in this morning’s session share that viewpoint with you, and I understand your point on not wanting to comment on GB policy, Mr Marshall. Forgive me for asking that question.

I also want to ask about your experiences. There is a contention among many parties in the UK House of Commons that photographic ID means many people turned away from polling stations and being stopped voting, and that it is, as they would say, anti-democratic. Could you give a brief outline of the experience of you guys in Northern Ireland and the speed at which people got used to having to show photo ID? I think you mentioned, Mr Hughes, that over 90% of people are aware that they need to carry photo ID, but can you briefly talk about your experience of the numbers in recent elections who are turned away from voting in Northern Ireland, and do you think it is a large-scale issue?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Mr Marshall, is there anything you wish to add?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

That would probably be my contention on the mainland—this needs to be given a chance to bed in. We have seen evidence that the percentage of people who think it is correct to require photograph ID to vote is increasing. Do you both agree that consistently changing the expectations of voters, in terms of what they need to take when they turn up to polling stations, does not make for an easy experience?Q

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Mr Marshall, don’t feel you need to, but if you want to add something, you are more than entitled to.

Samantha Dixon (Labour, Chester North and Neston)

Q It is very pleasing to meet you both, as the two most important people in Northern Ireland’s elections, I would suggest. Thank you for joining us today. How do you see the Bill making things easier for running elections in Northern Ireland?

Samantha Dixon (Labour, Chester North and Neston)

Q Mr Marshall, to follow up on the point you made about the canvass, the current situation is that the canvass is scrapped every 10 years in Northern Ireland and you have to begin again, so the new measures are welcome.

Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat, Hazel Grove)

My question is about the calling out process in polling stations, which clause 46 will end. In practice, does calling out still happen in elections, bearing in mind that voter ID has been needed in Northern Irish elections for the last 25 years? Do you see this as being a significant change, or will—as I suspect—everyone involved in elections just roll with this and possibly forget it even happened?Q

Katrina Murray (Labour, Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch)

For the record, I met Dr Marshall and Mr Hughes when they gave evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on 29 January 2025. I just want to pick up on a number of recommendations they made to that Committee about the need for changes in the Northern Ireland canvass process and several other related matters. Do you think that those are being appropriately addressed by the Bill, as it stands?Q

Warinder Juss (Labour, Wolverhampton West)

My question is about automatic voter registration. One witness in the previous sitting suggested that there might be a problem with data being disclosed without the consent of the individual. Do you have a view on that? Obviously, the automatic registration of voters would not necessarily compel a person to vote; it would just ensure that those entitled to vote get the opportunity to.Q

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

There seem to be no further questions, so I thank both witnesses for their evidence, and we will move on to our next panel. Thank you, gentlemen.

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

We will now hear oral evidence from The Politics Project and the Yorkshire and Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network. We have until 2.50 pm for this panel. Can the witnesses briefly introduce themselves for the record?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Thank you for coming to the Committee this afternoon, and for the work you do. Even though my party and I disagree with votes at 16, it is good that people are advocating for it and getting involved in this forum.

My question is on votes at 16 and your daily experiences of engaging with young people on it. I have had some experience of this in my constituency on Fridays. Granted, I am probably not the best person to sell the argument for votes at 16, although I still like to think that I can be at one with the kids in the schools—just the fact I said that shows I am not. Without giving my view, I have asked young people at my secondary schools to put their hands up to show whether they are for or against votes at 16, and the overwhelming majority are against. I found that really interesting, and I wonder whether it is in line with the general perception or engagement feedback you have seen?

Aside from votes at 16, could you outline to the Committee what methods, if this proposal goes through, the Government, mainstream political parties and, indeed, all parties should take on board, because we all have a stake in this and need to go further to engage younger people?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

I am sure many of us around the table will be looking daily at how to do that if the Bill goes through.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Thank you for that brilliant answer. You rightly brought up the last time this happened, when the age of majority and the age of voting were essentially the same. One thing I have been concerned about for a long time, since the Government first announced the election strategy before Christmas, is that in terms of public policy and the young people coming through, the age of majority seems horrendously confused—regarding voting, being an adult, serving and going to war, and being able to get on a sunbed.

So my question to you, in connection to that point, is whether you believe there is a missed opportunity in the Bill, in that somebody can vote in elections at 16 but not participate as a candidate, or do the Government have the right balance?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Harriet, does The Politics Project have a position on being able to participate in elections at 16 versus being able to vote at 16. What are your thoughts on it?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Thank you for your time, both of you.

Samantha Dixon (Labour, Chester North and Neston)

Q The voting age has obviously already been lowered in Wales and Scotland. As we approach the Bill, and it hopefully becomes law, allowing young people to participate by voting in our elections, what lessons do you think we should learn from the experience in Wales and Scotland over recent years?

Samantha Dixon (Labour, Chester North and Neston)

What you are saying is very interesting, and I will reflect on it. As we go through the Bill process, I think it will become clear that the Government have considered some of the points that you have raised, but thank you for raising them.

Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat, Hazel Grove)

Q I should declare an interest as a director of the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust. JRRT is one of the biggest funders of the democracy sector, so a number of the witnesses this afternoon will have received grants from JRRT, including the Politics Project and, I think, Dr Mycock, for a research project.

I strongly agree that we are in a moment of crisis for our democracy. An awful lot of things that I would have liked to see in the Bill are not there. You talked about the opportunity that this presents. Particularly looking through the lens of trust in politics and participation in our elections, what does your organisation, or you as an academic, believe could have been in the Bill that would have had a positive impact on trust in politics?

Warinder Juss (Labour, Wolverhampton West)

Q Since being elected as an MP, I have spent a lot of my time going into schools and engaging with young people, talking to them and having Q&A sessions. The level of engagement that they show is phenomenal, and the younger they are the more engaged they seem to be—even asking me questions like, “Why did you join the Labour party?”

My assessment from all this has been that if those young people were allowed to vote at 16 they would be very competent in contributing to democracy, and that it would be a great idea for them to be engaged earlier in politics, and to have had those conversations earlier. A witness in the previous panel said that the earlier somebody votes, the more likely they are to carry on voting. I have two questions. First, do you think my assessment is correct? Secondly, do you think that the ability to vote early is one important step we can take to make sure that we have that engagement, and bring democracy into play?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

I will use the last minute to squeeze Dr Chowns in.

Ellie Chowns (Green, North Herefordshire)

You both mentioned disinformation. Do you think the Bill does enough to tackle disinformation? Are there additional measures that are not yet in the Bill that you would welcome—for example, a real-time repository of online adverts, or further measures to tackle online disinformation? I am open to your suggestionsQ .

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

You have 20 seconds, Dr Mycock.

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Order. I have to cut you off there, I am afraid, because of the requirements of the procedure motion that has been passed. That brings us to the end of the time allotted for the Committee to ask questions. On behalf of the Committee, I thank you both for your evidence this afternoon.

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

We have until 3.15 pm for this panel. Could both professors briefly introduce themselves for the record?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Professors, thank you very much for coming this afternoon. Professor James, I confess that, in a minute, I will ask you a question that will probably make you ask why I am shadow elections Minister. I found your evidence fascinating reading, particularly about data. Under the section where you have said that citizens should have better electoral data, you go over the fact that there is no central source of information on local election results, for example, and that it has been left to academics such as yourself, civil society groups and election enthusiasts—of which I am one—to gather basic information about elections.

You suggested that an amendment could be introduced to establish statutory requirements for electoral registration officers to publish data on parliamentary and local elections in England and Northern Ireland. I thought it was general practice and already a statutory requirement for returning officers to publish things such as the names of candidates, polling stations and the results of elections. Could you explain where you have come from on that, and what the difference is with the current system?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q You learn something new every day, don’t you, Mr Mundell? Thank you for that answer, Professor James.

This may be slightly out of the scope of both of your expertise, but there is an amendment tabled to the Bill about a digital election leaflet repository for digital communications. It would introduce a duty for, after 72 hours, paid-for digital election campaigning materials to be stored in a central repository. It is not our amendment, but I think the argument is that people would then be able to see—and hold to account—the promises made by various parties in the United Kingdom. Do you have a view on whether that would be a good thing? Is that something that you support?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q I was about to say, “You old cynic, Professor,” but yes, I am sure. The Bill makes a number of proposals about automatic voter registration, and obviously I want to come back to your areas of expertise. Do you think the Bill goes far enough? When it comes to electoral registration, are there any areas where it does not go as far as you would like in your professional capacity?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Professor Bernal, do you have anything to add?

Samantha Dixon (Labour, Chester North and Neston)

Q We have talked about automatic voter registration, which obviously operates in other countries around the world. Where have you seen good practice? What examples can you give to the Committee that we should consider?

Samantha Dixon (Labour, Chester North and Neston)

Q Do you have anything to add, Professor Bernal?

Samantha Dixon (Labour, Chester North and Neston)

Q I am interested in what you said about the open register. The current proposal is to change it from opt-out to opt-in, but would you just like to scrap the whole thing?

Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat, Hazel Grove)

Q Mr Mundell, I refer you to my earlier declaration of interest as a director of JRRT, from which some of the witnesses have received funding for their work, including the two professors on this panel.

My question is about automatic voter registration and some of the civil liberties and privacy issues that we should considering as we look at this legislation. Can you help us think through some of the really important questions we should be asking, bearing in mind that, as you rightly say, a lot of the detail will be worked through in secondary legislation? What things should we be thinking about to make sure that we protect the population’s civil liberties and keep privacy where it should be?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

If Members have no further questions, I thank both witnesses for their evidence and we will prepare for the next panel.

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Q Good afternoon. We will now hear oral evidence from Democracy Volunteers and others. Thank you, gentlemen, for taking your places. We have until 3.55 pm for this panel. There may be a vote in the main Chamber before or around then; I will seek, as best I can, to prepare you for that should it happen. Please introduce yourselves.

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

I am sure we will be exploring the “Lord knows what” as we go along.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Gentlemen, thank you for coming; we appreciate your time. I want to ask three questions on a range of subjects. The first is about the proposals from Government about voter identification. As you know, there is a proposal to widen the scope of the ID that can be given to a polling station, so that it does not just include photographic ID and does include bank cards.

Given that in 2015 a Tower Hamlets election court judgment found that personation was one of the interlinked types of “corrupt and illegal practices” that took place, where people’s votes were literally stolen, are the proposals within the legislation good or bad for voter security?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Thank you. Mr Mawrey, do you have anything to say to that?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Thank you. Harry, do you have anything to add on that?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q I would like to move on to family voting. The recent parliamentary by-election in Gorton and Denton highlighted alleged instances of family voting, which, according to some parties, could have affected the outcome of that election. Democracy Volunteers has raised concerns about the prevalence of family voting, which, for those in the Gallery who do not know, is the practice of accompanying voters into or near polling booths and influencing them to vote in a particular way.

There is nothing in the Bill about family voting, but do you believe it should be amended in that regard? Do you or Democracy Volunteers perceive that family voting is a serious enough issue, and such a prevalent issue, that we need legislation to strengthen the security of that element, Harry?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q It is enforcement rather than legislation.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Councillor and Mr Mawrey, do you have anything to say on family voting? I know about your experience in Tower Hamlets, councillor, but I am not sure whether that was a factor. Do you have anything to add?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Q To clarify, what you are referencing does not relate to any matter currently under investigation.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

I agree.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Thank you. Quickly and finally, I have tabled new clause 37, which concerns the language of campaign materials. As we have seen in a recent parliamentary by-election, some parties on both the harder left and the harder right have taken to campaigning using leaflets in the short campaign in languages that are not official languages of the United Kingdom. My new clause would essentially mean that, during the short campaign, election literature would have to be in an official language of England, Wales or Scotland—an official UK language.

Do you think that is a good thing for democracy? Do you think it is needed, given some of the campaigning tactics we have seen? Or do you not think it would not make a difference in general to some of the problems we have seen in by-elections—but also in local and national elections—in the country?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

I appreciate that. We will go away to look at how that new clause can be tailored to your feedback, all three of you. The new clause came out of some of the campaigning in the Gorton by-election, so we will go away and look at it again.

Samantha Dixon (Labour, Chester North and Neston)

Q The Government’s election strategy said that our electoral system is not keeping pace with change. The Bill hopes to move us forward so that we do keep pace with changes in the electoral sphere. How successfully do you think the Bill brings us forward, and keeps us aligned and up to date?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Obviously, you are expressing your own view there.

Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat, Hazel Grove)

Q Democracy Volunteers has been a grantee of JRRT—there are some witnesses who are not grantees, but not Democracy Volunteers. I am grateful to Councillor Golds for outlining that family voting is not happening in only one community, which is an important point that I hope many people, particularly those who seek to divide our communities and will use any tool they can to do so, will listen to.

I have a question for all three of our witnesses. It pulls on a thread all of you have raised: the inconsistency around enforcement—whether that is local authorities, returning officers, presiding officers or different police forces enforcing things in different ways, or election law finally making it through to court should something need to be tried. I accept that this might not be the piece of legislation to address those inconsistencies, but can you say more about measures you think would be helpful to ensure that election law is applied fairly to all elections across the whole country?

Sam Rushworth (Labour, Bishop Auckland)

Harry, you mentioned earlier that you have evidence to show the extent to which people are being turned away is greater than in the official statistics. Can you share what you think the actual number is?Q

Mr Mawrey, I am wondering about the degree to which personation takes place, and how much of that is a problem. We are hearing other people express doubts about the use of ID and whether this is robust enough. To what extent is that a real issue?

Sam Rushworth (Labour, Bishop Auckland)

Q That is significant; a lot of seats were won or lost by smaller margins than that at the election. In your experience, how big a problem is that form of voter fraud, with people pretending to be someone they are not?

Sam Rushworth (Labour, Bishop Auckland)

Q What I am hearing in both of your answers is very little impact from personation, but a very high impact from people who want to vote not being able to.

Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat, Guildford)

I had a quick question about the accessibility of polling stations for people with disabilities. As a quick example, I spoke to someone who talked about how their son, who has a severe learning disability, really wanted to vote. They had talked it through beforehand, but he really struggled in the voting booth, and of course, the parents cannot assist in the voting booth. What challenges do you see at the polling stations for people with a wide range of disabilities being able to use their vote?Q

Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat, Guildford)

Q I guess the question is whether there is more that could be done, potentially through this Bill, to empower every single person in our democracy to vote.

Lewis Cocking (Conservative, Broxbourne)

I should declare that when I was a councillor, I did a number of things with Councillor Golds on similar committeeQ s at the Local Government Association.

Harry, earlier you mentioned a percentage of people in your data who get turned away at polling stations. Was that all because they did not have the appropriate ID? I have seen people get turned away from polling stations simply because they have turned up to the wrong one. Do those people get included in your data, or is it just people who fail to bring the appropriate ID?

Lewis Cocking (Conservative, Broxbourne)

We have not touched on this with this group of witnesses: Richard, what are your views on automatic voter registration? In particular, what are your views on a situation where not everybody would be automatically enrolled at the same time for the same general election, potentially creating two groups of the electorate?Q

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

If there are no further questions from Members, I thank the witnesses for their evidence. We will move on to the next panel, and hear oral evidence from the Henry Jackson Society. We have until 4.10 pm for that panel. There will be a vote called during it, and I will suspend the Committee for 15 minutes at that point.

Examination of Witness

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Mr Browder, can you introduce yourself? I do not know if you heard me say that there is likely to be a vote during the course of your evidence. I will suspend the Committee for 15 minutes. The MPs present will vote, but we will come back to hear the remainder of your evidence.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Good afternoon and thank you for being here. My question is very brief because of the narrow scope of what you are answering questions on. Do you think that the Bill explicitly needs to take account of donations through cryptocurrency and how do you think that could best be achieved? What do you say to a number of colleagues in this House who, through principled aims, think that cryptocurrency donations should be banned?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Thank you for that very thorough answer. The Bill makes provisions for a number of risk factors to be taken into account when conducting enhanced due diligence checks on donations. Do you think that they are sufficient as outlined in the legislation?

Samantha Dixon (Labour, Chester North and Neston)

Q Thank you, Mr Browder. Are you aware of examples where cryptocurrency has already been used for foreign political interference?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Order. I will now suspend this sitting.

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Order. I reconvene the sitting. You had completed a sentence, Mr Browder, but had you completed your full answer?

Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat, Guildford)

Q It is interesting to hear you talk about how the Electoral Commission does not have the power it needs in order to act in this very challenging, complex and constantly evolving sphere. From your perspective, what are some of the key changes that would need to be in the Bill to enable us to have that protection and enable the Electoral Commission to keep on top of this?

Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat, Guildford)

Q I have a second question. The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy recommended a temporary ban on crypto donations until there is statutory guidance. From your perspective and understanding of crypto, do you agree? Expanding a bit more, is there anything you would recommend in any guidance on crypto?

Lloyd Hatton (Labour, South Dorset)

To build on some of the lines of questioning that have been put forward, I am keen to get your perspective on what the best approach is to make sure we look at the next big challenge that could be posed by crypto donations, particularly if those come indirectly. How do you see us being able to challenge that problem and take it seriously if we find that crypto donations are reaching political parties in this country via an indirect route, particularly via companies or a third party, for exampleQ ?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

I am afraid we are out of time for this witness panel, but thank you, Mr Browder, for your evidence this afternoon.

Examination of witnesses

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Q We will now move on to hear oral evidence from Conservatives Abroad, Labour International CLP, LibDems Abroad and Lib Dems in Europe. We have until 4.55 pm for this panel. I will first ask Ms Shorten and Mr McAdam, who are online, to confirm that they can hear and see us and to introduce themselves.

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Excellent. We also have three witnesses in the room. There is always a bit of choreography when we are rotating between online and in-situ witnesses. Could the witnesses in the Committee Room introduce themselves too, please?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Welcome to all our witnesses—virtual and in person—this afternoon. The Government have always been clear, and have said in the House, that any instance of ineligible people being able to vote is unacceptable. However, does the current system for overseas voting ensure that eligible voters are able to have their votes counted? Do you agree with my assertion—if not, that is absolutely fine; many people don’t—that the Government have not concentrated on making it easier in this legislation for overseas voters to vote, and that that is a missed opportunity?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Thank you. You anticipated my next question to you, Colin, so you have killed two birds with one stone. I will go to Imogen and Richard on the general point about the legislation, but first I will ask whether you agree with the proposal to allow downloadable ballot papers. Would that make the system easier?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q This is not a challenge but an observation about your answer, for which I thank you. You have outlined some possible solutions. The British Overseas Voters Forum propose solutions such as ensuring that postal ballot papers are downloaded and securely posted via embassies and consulates. That is done in the Netherlands, but the forum did not recommend electronic voting, which would be insecure. Is that your understanding of its response to the possible solutions?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

I was just checking—I was not trying to catch you out.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q You issue a fair challenge where apathy and not understanding the process for voters are an issue, but there is also the fact that we in this House rarely have overseas constituents get in touch. [Interruption.] Maybe I am lucky. I had one two months ago, and my team, who are very good, did not quite understand what they were and were not allowed to do, because the constituent was not physically in the constituency. I think the House has a duty to improve knowledge about MPs representing those people, and I learned a solid lesson. Jenny and Tom, shall we come to you on the first question?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Tom, don’t feel like you have to answer if you do not want to. I want your own parties to be able to scrutinise you and ask you questions as well. If you do want to answer, please do, but I want to allow your colleagues to ask you questions.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

If the Minister decides to make me the MP for overseas voters, I am more than happy to do surgeries across the world.

Samantha Dixon (Labour, Chester North and Neston)

Q Outer Mongolia, perhaps?

As an aside to Paul’s point, I do receive correspondence from constituents who live overseas, usually in respect of their pension arrangements. However, to tackle the point about apathy or disengagement, the Bill includes powers to pilot automatic voter registration. Do you think that that would be a valuable tool for overseas voters?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

We will come to you, Ms Shorten.

Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat, Guildford)

Q I want to talk a little about automatic and automated registration. This question is for all members of the panel: do you think that there should be active promotion of British citizens living overseas joining the register? A couple of members of the panel have already touched upon that. I have a second part of the same question, which Colin Blackwell has already touched on, in relation to the Passport Office. When overseas UK nationals renew or apply for a passport, might it be a sensible approach to provide those overseas individuals with information about registering to vote?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Mr Joseph, you have one minute for your question and the answer.

Sojan Joseph (Labour, Ashford)

I know we touched on the question of MPs not being able to help you or locate you because the digital system we use, CaseWorker, is linked to the voter register. Maybe that is why we cannot help, but do you think that there should be a separate register for those living overseas? Would that resolve such issues?Q

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

You have had the last word of this panel, Mr Blackwell. On behalf of the Committee, I thank our witnesses in the Boothroyd Room and online for their evidence.

Examination of Witnesses

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

We will now hear oral evidence from Demos and Full Fact. We have until 5.20 pm for this panel in our revised timescale. Will our witnesses please briefly introduce themselves for the record?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Good afternoon, both of you, and welcome to the Committee. I enjoyed reading both your submissions to the Committee. It really interested me that there is clearly a desire, from both your organisations, to reduce the amount of threats and harms to active participants in the political process, and to come up with tangible examples of where you want to try to tackle the electoral system, particularly where we are—a bit like with computers—speeding ahead in technological advancement but the system is creaking in trying to catch up with it. I want to explore two areas quickly and then hand over to the Minister.

Clearly, in the election strategy announced before Christmas, the Government said that our

“democracy is being threatened by misinformation”.

Both your organisations have come up with fairly similar recommendations, including, in the Demos report on electoral online harms, the recommendation for a political digital repository. I think that is quite a good idea. Can you outline to the Committee, on behalf of your organisations, where you think that the Bill is deficient in tackling such threats, particularly those from digital communications?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

I would never have guessed.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q I do not think you are the only one sitting around the table today who considers the Bill a missed opportunity, particularly when it comes to catching up on digital harms and the scrutiny that all of us as local or national politicians should be under when it comes to digital campaigning.

These quotes are from your briefing, Chris, if I may plagiarise and read them out. A former Minister said that more needs to be done to deal with hostile actors. My boss, James Cleverly, has said that the Conservatives would support

“sensible, proportionate measures to ensure that AI-generated political material is clearly labelled and subject to transparency as a requirement”.—[Official Report, 2 March 2026; Vol. 781, c. 635.]

Zöe Franklin, who serves on this Committee, said that section 106 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 needs to be updated to

“explicitly criminalise the use of AI and deepfakes”.—[Official Report, 2 March 2026; Vol. 781, c. 651.]

Your briefing also mentions what Martin Wrigley and Alex Barros-Curtis said. Emily Darlington, with her two excellent amendments, has tried to tackle this issue.

What interactions have you both had with officials in the Department to see how far you can get in probing and trying to get these issues included in the Bill in the first place? What would you say to the Committee about Emily Darlington’s new clauses 22 and 24?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q I notice that quite a considerable number of Labour Members have signed new clause 10, so let’s hope that when we get to Report, they put their money where their mouths are and vote for it, if it is selected.

Very quickly, as I know other people want to ask questions, I can see why people would want to support new clause 24’s repository of digital political advertising. One of the drawbacks that I think we can see in the new clause, which I want to strengthen, is that the Electoral Commission obviously will have responsibility for establishing a repository of paid-for digital political advertising within the 72-hour window. Where do you both think is the ideal location for that repository? Where would it sit? Would it sit with a Government Department or in a Government agency? Who would be the regulator, and who would be the manager and data controller of that repository? Do you have a preference for how that might be legislated for, such as in a new amendment?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

I would be one of the people sad enough to go to the National Archives to look at them, so I am fully in favour of it.

Samantha Dixon (Labour, Chester North and Neston)

Q Chris, you very ably pointed out how technology moves at breakneck speed and takes us forward, and it has been recognised that our electoral system is not keeping pace with it. Is there any way in which either of you feel that the Bill takes us forward and brings us up to speed—anything at all?

Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat, Guildford)

Q For transparency, I have met representatives of Full Fact in preparation for the Bill.

I want to talk about doxing, and my understanding is that it is not currently within the scope of the Bill. For anyone who is not on top of doxing, it is where information is gathered about you and then dropped online so that people can find out where you live and other information. Given that the Speaker’s Conference and the Crown Prosecution Service have both spoken out about how important it is to address this, do you feel that it is a problem that doxing is not currently in or addressed by the Bill?

Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat, Guildford)

Q Can I go on to the issue of online attacks on candidates, their families and people involved in elections? Social media platforms play a massive role in the distribution of things like misinformation, disinformation and deepfakes. Is there more that the Bill could do to put a requirement on social media platforms to act more swiftly to address those issues?

Ellie Chowns (Green, North Herefordshire)

Q Thank you both for your work. You have made a powerful case for the danger of not better regulating disinformation. Can you share any lessons observed from how other countries have perhaps done this better? We have talked about the proposal for a repository of digital adverts. We have talked about deepfake labelling. What about other forms of disinformation, such as bot campaigns?

Secondly, do you agree that we need to regulate not just during the regulated period but all year round, because disinformation has corrosive effects all year round? Thirdly, do you have any comments on the need for better enforcement of existing imprint laws? Finally, you referenced the Rycroft review, which of course covers only foreign interference. Are we paying enough attention to domestic disinformation?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

You have 10 seconds.

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

That brings us to the conclusion of this evidence session. I thank both witnesses on behalf of the Committee for their evidence.

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

We will now hear oral evidence from Transparency International, Dr Sam Power and Spotlight on Corruption. We have until 5.50 pm for this panel. Could I ask each of you to introduce yourselves and say a little about your organisations?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q Thank you for coming this afternoon. Welcome back, Duncan, to these hallowed halls; it has gone downhill since you were last here.

I have taken great pleasure in reading all the evidence that has come in today. There are some bits I agree with—particularly from Dr Hawley and Dr Power—but there are some recommendations that I would be concerned about if we started to implement. Sorry, Mr Hames, but I am going to focus on the other two witnesses first. First, where do you see the balance between the freedom to practise democracy and overburdensome restrictions that could harm transparency and restrict voter interaction with the party political process?

We have heard this morning that there is a perception that overseas voters are finding it incredibly hard to engage with voting and have many obstacles to voting. You have a proposal that any overseas voter wishing to be considered a permissible donor should also be a UK-registered taxpayer and have submitted at least one non-zero tax return in the two years prior to making the donation. Does that not risk creating two tiers of voter—well, we already have that, but exacerbating it? For example, someone in receipt of benefits or who falls underneath the tax threshold in this country is allowed to vote. Why should they be allowed to vote, if an overseas voter who does not pay tax should not be allowed to vote? That is to Dr Power, then I will come back with another question.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q On the original question about the balance between overburdensome regulation and the ability to interact with the electoral process, Dr Hawley, in your evidence, at paragraph 9, “Campaign spending limits on an annual basis”, you state:

“Parties are increasingly building up their war chests well before the run-up to elections and engaging in permanent campaigning. This can have an impact on subsequent elections; as the Committee for Standards on Public Life…noted in its 2021 report”.

It is always going to be the case that political parties have to fundraise to communicate with the electorate. Where is the balance? What I could not quite work out from that submission is where you see the balance between restricting fundraising and keeping communications with the electorate going over that 18 months, rather than seeing it as campaigning? I might not be clear, but I am trying to see where you see that balance coming through.

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Q I want to ask all three witnesses about one other area, very briefly. A recommendation in your evidence, Dr Hawley, is that we:

“Prohibit crypto donations until/unless…crypto currency becomes much more widely used by a greater cross-section of the population”.

That is something that needs to be seriously explored, because of evidence given to us earlier in Committee about the lack of regulation that has caught up with something that is to me completely not understandable. You support that proposal, Dr Hawley, because it is your proposal, but do the other two witnesses support an interim ban on cryptocurrency donations until the regulatory framework has caught up? Also, if we get a suitable regulatory framework, do you think such donations should be re-established or do you think that they should just be banned permanently?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Thank you. Dr Power?

Paul Holmes (Conservative, Hamble Valley)

Thank you, and thank you for the work you have been doing.

Samantha Dixon (Labour, Chester North and Neston)

Q What is your assessment of the “know your donor” regime set out in the Bill?

David Mundell (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)

Q Do any other witnesses wish to add anything?

Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat, Hazel Grove)

Q In the interests of full transparency, Transparency International and Spotlight on Corruption are both grantees of the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, of which I am a director.

You talked about reducing discretion, and there are proposed amendments that would clarify who is no longer a permissible donor. I agree that clarifying some of that would be helpful for political parties. However, may I invite all the witnesses to talk about what is currently in the Bill on money coming in from overseas? The Government have been very clear that they want to take steps to tackle foreign interference, and we are looking at the recommendations from Philip Rycroft’s review. Could you say whether the provisions in the Bill are robust enough to stop foreign money being funnelled through UK entities? If not, what steps would you recommend to tackle that?

Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat, Hazel Grove)

I am working with the Public Bill Office on an amendment that extends the regulated period. Given the narrow scope of the Bill, that is a way of thinking about that.

Lloyd Hatton (Labour, South Dorset)

Q In the interests of full transparency, I have worked closely with Duncan and Susan and knew both of them prior to being elected to this place. I have a quick question that builds on some of the areas we have already talked about. Susan, on the point of how we put into practice checks that could look at people who may be connected to somebody who is politically exposed or to a high-risk jurisdiction, you said that the Bill has good “know your donor” checks but that they need to be strengthened further. How would those be delivered in practice?

Lloyd Hatton (Labour, South Dorset)

Q Thank you; that is helpful. Another key point that we have discussed in detail is about recent investigations finding that around £6 million in donations through UK-registered companies have ultimately turned out to have been owned by individuals who are not eligible to vote here in the UK, and therefore not permissible donors. Do you feel that the proposed safeguards governing corporate political donations are sufficient, and do you think that this Bill goes far enough to up the ante against that kind of foul play?

Lloyd Hatton (Labour, South Dorset)

Q Shifting attention slightly towards enforcement, we know that, when trying to tackle foreign interference in the democratic process or dodgy donations, enforcement is essential to creating a better, fairer and more transparent landscape. The intention is to increase the Electoral Commission’s fining capabilities to £500,000 per offence, up from the current £20,000, via secondary legislation. Do you think that that shift upwards is sufficient as a strong, robust deterrence against breaking the rules in this country?

Lloyd Hatton (Labour, South Dorset)

Q I have a very quick final question, taking a step back and responding to what you have just said. You feel that in the current landscape no single law enforcement body has overarching responsibility for enforcement, and particularly enforcement of electoral finance laws. It feels a bit patchwork at the moment: sometimes it is the police; sometimes it is the commission. Do you feel that is something that we need to look at overhauling so that we can have a much more comprehensive response that works more robustly, and hopefully more swiftly, in response to the issues that you just mentioned?

Ellie Chowns (Green, North Herefordshire)

Q You have answered many of the questions that I had. Thank you all for your work. Briefly, do you have a view on where the cap on political donations should be, or how it should be set? That is a question for each of you. And should we have a cap on annual spending, to get away from the gaming of the system around regulated periods that Dr Power referred to? Where should it be set, and how?

The rest of the debate is in Hansard.