The voter ID rule that was brought in an attempt to tackle electoral fraud in the 2023 local elections ‘disenfranchises more voters than it protects,' MPs have said.

A report into the controversial law by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on democracy and the constitution described it as a ‘poisoned cure' that prevented at least 14,000 people from voting in the elections.

The report said that the selection of documents that were accepted as qualifying ID was ‘arbitrary,' and it found evidence of racial and disability discrimination at polling stations.

It recommended that the law remained in place but that reforms, such as broadening the range of valid ID, should be introduced.

John Nicolson, who chaired the inquiry, said: ‘Voters must be able to exercise their democratic rights by casting their ballot and they must have the security of knowing that no one is going to undermine that right by voting in their name.

The voter ID system, as it stands, doesn't get the balance right.

'You don't solve anything by disenfranchising voters.'

A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson said: ‘We are committed to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to have their say in our democracy as we implement the Electoral Commission's recommendation of introducing identification for voting in person across Great Britain, in line with the longstanding arrangements in Northern Ireland.

‘The Government has always been confident in the ability of local authorities to implement the voter identification changes while continuing to deliver our elections robustly and securely, as they always do.'