Opposition parties have written a joint letter to the government urging ministers to abandon a programme to introduce compulsory ID for voters, saying it would disproportionately affect the most vulnerable people.

The letter, from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, SNP, Plaid Cymru and Greens, says the government has “received multiple warnings” from charities and others about the problems of the policy, which critics say is a huge overreaction to the issue of voter fraud, which occurs very rarely. A recent study found just eight fraud claims were reported at the 2018 local elections, 3% of all alleged electoral offences, with no action taken in seven.

The letter cites the example of an 87-year-old woman from Pendle, in Lancashire, who was reportedly turned away at this month’s local elections for not having the necessary photo ID with her, the first time she had been unable to vote.

At last year’s elections, voters in five council areas of England were obliged to show varying forms of ID. This year the trial was extended to 10 districts, among them Pendle, as part of what ministers plan as a national rollout in all elections.

Charities and other groups are concerned the policy could disproportionately impact more vulnerable voters, such as those who are older or homeless, or have a disability.

The letter, sent to the Cabinet Office minister Kevin Foster and signed by Labour’s Cat Smith, the Lib Dem MP Tom Brake, the SNP’s Tommy Sheppard, Ben Lakeof Plaid Cymru, and the Green party MP Caroline Lucas, highlighted the warnings from charities and other organisations, including the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The letter said: “The Windrush scandal has demonstrated very clearly that it can be more difficult for some communities to provide official documentation than others. Read more

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