Tag Archives: proxy voting

Mark Valladares

Welcome to my day: 30 March 2026 – the most random elections ever?

By Mark Valladares | Mon 30th March 2026 - 7:27 am

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to another Monday morning. No, really, it’s not that bad…

Polling day is getting ever closer and predictions on how the various parties will get on are beginning to emerge, as Mark Pack has noted. I’m of the view that it’s harder and harder to make predictions based on national data, and that, as we saw in the 2024 General Election, voters will make decisions based on who they think the best alternative is where they are. Where Liberal Democrats are active, they’re likely to be seen as the best bet to keep Reform out, but even the Conservatives are claiming that voters are turning to them to keep Reform out. As the Guardian reports in an article about Conservative prospects on 7 May;

One MP suggests that tactical voting could boost the party’s results. “On the doorsteps I’ve had quite a lot of people say things like: ‘I’m normally a Lib Dem, but it’s you versus Reform here, and I want to keep Reform out at all costs, so I’ll vote for you.’

And, of course, in urban areas, there is a definite turn against Labour, outflanked to the left by the Greens and, perhaps, the Liberal Democrats, losing support to the Conservatives in places like North West London, and to Reform in predominantly white, working class areas. For some voters, the decision of who do vote for to give Labour a kicking and keep Reform out is going to be a challenging one. And, with rather lower turnouts than for national elections, what enthuses voters to come out om polling day will be key.

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Mark Valladares

28 January 2019 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Mon 28th January 2019 - 11:44 pm

Never let it be said that we’re not public spirited here at Liberal Democrat Voice. So, for those of you who haven’t filed your Self Assessment tax return for the year ended 5 April 2018, the deadline is just seventy-two hours away. Don’t delay, don’t let it peck away at you!

Meanwhile, back on Planet Zog…

  • Lib Dems: Culture in our schools system is toxic
  • Lib Dems reject Tory Immigration Bill
  • Ed Davey: Labour abstention on Immigration Bill “pathetic” (see here)
  • Govt defeat in Lords shows backstop tinkering will not work
  • Lib Dems: Britain deserves a better opposition as Labour U-turn on Immigration Bill
  • Swinson: Proxy

…

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Mark Valladares

22 January 2019 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 22nd January 2019 - 11:34 pm

Labour must stop ‘chasing their unicorn Brexit deal’ – Jane Dodds

Welsh Lib Dem Leader Jane Dodds has criticised Jeremy Corbyn’s “intentionally ambiguous amendment” and urged the Labour leadership to stop “chasing their unicorn Brexit deal”.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds said:

Brexit is a national embarrassment. The Prime Minister’s plan B looks no different to her plan A. Meanwhile, the Labour leadership continues to ignore its members, its voters and the country’s interests.

With just 66 days to go until we leave the European Union, we do not have the luxury to wait for Corbyn to slowly inch his way toward backing

…

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Caron Lindsay

Commons Proxy voting gets a step closer – watch Jo Swinson’s blistering speech

By Caron Lindsay | Tue 22nd January 2019 - 9:59 pm

Proxy voting for MPs on baby leave might be in place by the time of the crucial Brexit votes next Tuesday night.

In response to an urgent question from our Jo Swinson today, Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom confirmed that MPs would get the chance to pass a motion implementing the move on Monday.

However, if just one MP shouts “object” the whole project could be delayed further.

Many people were horrified that Hampstead and Kilburn MP Tulip Siddiq was put in the position where she had to delay the caesarean section which would bring her son, Raphael, into the world, so she could vote in the Brexit debate last week.

However, Jo’s urgent question was prompted by this story in the Times(£) which suggested that it was the Tory Chief Whip Julian Smith who was the main road block to progress.

The reason this is so urgent is that, while Jo was nursing her newborn son Gabriel back in July, thinking she was paired with Tory chairman Brandon Lewis, she was let down. Lewis voted, amid reports that Smith had been ordering his MPs to break pairs.

Jo had called for his resignation as a result of yesterday’s story and secured an urgent question for today.

In Jo’s first decade in Parliament, she was pretty careful, always very measured, much more so than she was behind the scenes. Now she’s just letting rip with what she feels, which is really good to see. She also placed some quality shade in the direction of Philip Davies, for whom the nation of gender equality is still a bit of a mystery.

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Mark Valladares

21 January 2019 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Mon 21st January 2019 - 11:40 pm

Some good news today, as the Government has withdrawn the £65 charge for EU citizens to register for settled status. Admittedly though, they’re still at the mercy of a Home Office not necessarily recognised for its compassion or competence, but it is at least a start…

And with that, here are today’s press releases…

  • Home Office settled status scheme risks new Windrush scandal
  • Swinson: Govt Chief Whip must resign if he is blocking proxy voting
  • New laws only help domestic abuse victims if there’s cash to enforce them
  • Lib Dems: Will Corbyn agree with Gardiner and vote for a People’s Vote?
  • Government cave on unfair EU

…

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Caron Lindsay

WATCH: Jo Swinson on cheating pairs, adorable babies and the realities of working and breastfeeding

By Caron Lindsay | Thu 13th September 2018 - 9:30 pm

Here’s Jo Swinson’s speech in the debate on allowing proxy voting for MPs who have had babies.

It was one of the most real and honest speeches I’ve ever heard. Jo talked about her fury when Tory Chairman Brandon Lewis broke their pairing arrangement in July to vote in a key Brexit vote.

She also spoke about some of the appalling comments she got on Twitter after that, including the criticism that she had gone to the Trump demo for 45 minutes but couldn’t manage to vote in Parliament, something which would have meant hanging around for 5 hours.

Jo talked about the intricacies of establishing breastfeeding and how you need to concentrate on it during the early days. Her voice cracked with emotion as she talked about the difficulties she had establishing breastfeeding with her first son. I actually cried too as I remembered what it was like to be syringing expressed milk into my baby, 19 years on. She got there, though, with all the support that she needed.

She was also open about the realities of expressing milk several times a day. I think it’s fantastic that she posted a picture of her breast pump on Instagram the other day.

She talked about the need to have proper breastfeeding and expressing facilities for all nursing babies who work on the Parliamentary estate, recognising it was easier for her as she had her own office and control over her diary.

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Caron Lindsay

Leadsom, Lewis and Smith in trouble over Jo Swinson pairing scandal

By Caron Lindsay | Thu 19th July 2018 - 4:16 pm

Remember when the Tories cheated in order to win the tight vote in Parliament, just like Vote Leave cheated to win the EU Referendum?

Tory Chairman Brandon Lewis, paired with Jo Swinson who was at home with her two week old baby, should not have voted on Tuesday night. He honoured that in the first few, but in the really crucial ones, on the European Medicines Agency (which the Government lost) and the customs union, (which the Government narrowly won), he cast his vote. Now, had he voted in the earlier divisions, Alistair Carmichael, our Chief Whip, might have noticed …

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Mark Pack

Police investigate electoral allegations in Hyndburn

By Mark Pack | Mon 14th May 2012 - 1:55 pm

The Lancashire Telegraph reports:

POLICE have launched an investigation into voting at this month’s local elections.

Labour officials have made a complaint about irregularities concerning proxy votes in Hyndburn.

A proxy vote is when votes are placed at the polling station on somebody’s behalf, usually when they are unable to leave the house or are on holiday and have chosen not to vote via post.

Police said they had also launched an investigation into claims constituency MP Graham Jones had intimidated voters.

They said this was not connected with the proxy votes allegations.

In three wards in Hyndburn there were more than fifty proxy …

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Mark Pack

Better postal voter security amongst Government’s proposed changes to election law

By Mark Pack | Fri 16th September 2011 - 1:55 pm

This week the government has put three new changes to election law out for consultation:

  • Ending the automatic postponement of parish and community council elections in England and Wales that currently occurs when they fall on the same day as ordinary local government elections and either a Parliamentary or European Parliamentary general election.
  • Mandate 100% checking of the personal identifiers for postal votes at elections (comparing the signatures and date of birth given when a postal vote is cast against the originals on file from the postal vote application). Although 100% is often recommended and done, the law only requires a

…

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Mark Pack

Conservative member convicted of electoral fraud after councillor father acquitted

By Mark Pack | Sat 4th December 2010 - 6:45 pm

A quick update on the case of electoral fraud in Walsall, where father and son were charged. The father, Conservative councillor Mohammed Munir was cleared in September. His son, also a Conservative Party member but not a councillor, has now however been convicted.

Ali Hayder Munir has received a three month jail sentence after admitting to two charges of faking proxy vote applications in the run up to the 2008 elections for Walsall Council. The fake applications involved identifying real but unregistered people and then making electoral registration and proxy vote applications on their behalf. The government’s plans …

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Mark Pack

Ex-Tory councillor convicted of proxy vote fraud

By Mark Pack | Mon 5th July 2010 - 11:44 pm

An update on Mohammed Saghir, the former Conservative councillor in Calderdale who went on trial for electoral fraud earlier this year:

has been found guilty of election fraud at Bradford Crown Court.

Mohammed Saghir, 63, of Gibbet Street, Halifax, applied for five proxy votes in other people’s names in the May 2008 local election…

Saghir, who did not attend court for his trial, is thought to be in Pakistan. His son, Shakar, was standing as an independent candidate in the election. (Halifax Evening Courier)

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Mark Pack

Still time for stranded travellers to apply for a proxy vote

By Mark Pack | Sun 25th April 2010 - 2:20 pm

Stuck in the wrong place due to the air travel disruptions? There is still time to apply for a proxy vote as the Electoral Commission explains:

Voting by proxy means appointing someone you trust to vote on your behalf. To apply, go to www.aboutmyvote.co.uk and print off the application form, sign it and send it back to your local electoral registration office by the 5pm 27 April deadline. You can also call our helpline on 0800 3 280 280 if you have any questions. Registration officers should accept faxed application forms or scanned copies by e-mail, as long as the details

…

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Mark Pack

Two councillors accused of breaking election law; one political party investigated

By Mark Pack | Thu 15th April 2010 - 12:20 pm

A quick round-up of stories in the news recently:

In January 2010 the Electoral Commission, the independent party finance watchdog, began a case review following concerns raised in the independent auditor’s opinion about the adequacy of the 2008 statement of accounts of the British National Party.

The case has now become an investigation. However, it is important to note – particularly during an election period – that no conclusion has been reached and therefore no assumption should be made as to whether a breach of the rules has occurred. (Electoral Commission)

A CONSERVATIVE councillor has been suspended and is due in

…

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Mark Pack

New figures show over a third of councils are failing in the fight against electoral fraud

By Mark Pack | Wed 22nd April 2009 - 8:55 am

New figures published today by the Electoral Commission show that over a third of local councils are failing to meet the standards laid down to ensure the integrity of the electoral register and postal voting process.

Today’s figures are the first time the Electoral Commission has published detailed records of how Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) across Great Britain are performing against recently introduced performance standards. The ten standards cover a wide range of their work, including the completeness and accuracy of the electoral register, publicising the registration process to the public and overall planning and organisation.

Although in many areas the 404 …

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Mark Pack

What’s the point of switching to individual electoral registration?

By Mark Pack | Tue 10th March 2009 - 10:20 am

Cross-posted from The Wardman Wire:

After a long period of stalling, the Government recently finally announced a timetable for switching Britain’s electoral registration system from one based on households to one based on individuals. The Electoral Commission, Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats have been calling for such a switch for a long time, but what’s the reason for making the switch?

The current electoral registration system is based on one registration form being delivered to each household, with the head of the household completing the form on behalf of everyone there and sending it back (“household registration”).

One reason therefore for …

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