The Government has published the Electoral Registration and Administration Bill, which, if passed, will tackle electoral fraud by speeding up the introduction of individual electoral registration and modernise the system of voter registration. The Bill includes the Government’s plans for individual electoral registration, which would end the practice of the head of a household being responsible for registering everyone in a property.

Currently, the head of a household registers everyone who lives at the same address. Under the system of individual registration, everyone would register separately, each providing their own unique identifiers, like National Insurance number and date of birth, so their information can be verified.

The new registration system is due to be in place by the end of 2015. During 2014, voters would be transferred to the new system of registration by matching data on the current electoral register with other public records, so around two thirds would not have to take any action in order to remain on the electoral register.

Under the data matching process, an elector’s name and address would be compared against other public databases. If an individual’s details match then they will not have to take any action to remain on the register. Where electors details cannot be confirmed, individuals will be personally invited to register under the new system. This will help ensure that we have an electoral register which is as accurate and complete as possible.

The new Bill also paves the way for online registration, which would make it more convenient for individuals to ensure they are registered to vote.

Over the past year, the Government’s proposals have been subject to extensive consultation and pre-legislative scrutiny.

Under the current system, failure to respond to a household canvass or not provide information to an Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) is a criminal offence punishable by a £1000 fine and which leaves you with a criminal record. The Government does not propose any extension of the existing offence. Instead, the Bill proposes a lesser civil offence, more like a parking fine, where an individual fails to make an application to register to vote. This will provide appropriate encouragement for people to do their civic duty and register to vote. However, it is not our intention to see large numbers of people fined, and so there will be safeguards in place to ensure that EROs are required to take specific steps to encourage an application and only those who refuse repeated invitations can be fined.

Mark Harper, Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform, said:

“We must do everything we can to minimise the risk of fraud and increase trust in our electoral system, while encouraging as many eligible voters as possible to get registered to vote.

“Alongside the measures for online registration and to improve the administration of elections, I am confident that the Electoral Registration and Administration Bill will create a fair, robust and efficient system, fit to face the challenges of the 21st century.”

As well as preparation for individual electoral registration, there are also provisions in the Bill to increase voter participation, further improve the integrity of our electoral system and ensure that the process underpinning our elections is more robust. The electoral timetable for UK Parliamentary elections will be extended, benefiting postal voters, in particular those overseas and service personnel based abroad, by allowing them more time to receive and return their postal vote.

Speaking after the 2012 Local Elections, Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said:

“It’s been a disappointing and difficult night for the Liberal Democrats. I’m really sad that so many colleagues and friends, Liberal Democrat councillors, who’ve worked so hard, so tirelessly, for so many years, for communities and families in their local areas, have lost their seats. And I want to pay tribute to all the great work that they have done.

“I’m determined that we will continue to play our role in rescuing, repairing, and reforming the British economy. It’s not an easy job and it can’t be done overnight. But our duty is to boost jobs and investment and restore a sense of hope and optimism to our country.

“I believe that, over time, people will come to acknowledge our unique role, the Liberal Democrats, in this Government as the only party that combines responsibility on the economy with social fairness.”

For those who have not yet seen them the result of yesterday’s election for the Yarborough Ward were as follows:

CANDIDATE PARTY VOTES POLLED
Les Bonner Liberal Democrats 765
James Cairns UKIP 482
Jane Hyldon-King Labour 1067

(Turnout : 26.92%)

You get nothing for second place in this game!

I would like to thank everyone who voted for me, and a special thank you to my agent and colleague, Peter Bailey, his wife Anne and all of the other people who helped in the campaign for their hard work, support and enthusiasm during the campaign.

A disappointing result, but we all live to fight another day!

The rest of the results for N E Lincs can be found on http://ht.ly/aIgz1

Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg has written to members and campaigners, wishing them good luck in tomorrow’s local elections.

A copy of the email is below:

Dear Les

This Thursday across much of England, Liberal Democrat councillors and campaigners will be standing for election to represent their communities on their local council. I would like to wish them the very best in those elections – every vote for the Liberal Democrats and every Liberal Democrat councillor elected is a step towards a more liberal country.

Liberal Democrat councillors have a well-deserved reputation for dedication and commitment to their local communities. And our record on freezing council tax, protecting local libraries and giving pay rises for the lowest paid council workers shows the difference we make when we run local councils.

Labour may choose to lie in what they tell people about our record in government, but I remain very proud of what we have achieved: raising the income tax threshold and cutting taxes for 23 million ordinary working people, implementing the Pupil Premium, creating record numbers of apprenticeships and delivering the ‘triple lock’ guarantee for pensions.

We have only been able to implement these much-needed liberal policies because of the hard work of Liberal Democrats across the country. That hard work can make a difference again on Thursday. Find out here what you can do to help the campaign in your area; please do take a moment to help if you can.

Best wishes,

Nick Clegg MP

Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister

PS People are far more likely to vote if you simply ask them to. Ask your friends and followers to vote on Twitter and Facebook.

Our priorities are clear. In difficult times we must make sure we do all we can to help ordinary working people. That is why, unlike Labour or the Conservatives, every Liberal Democrat council in England has frozen council tax. That is why Liberal Democrat councils are more likely to earmark funds for the lowest paid than any other. And that is why Liberal Democrats in Government are delivering tax cuts for more than 21million working people.

We listen to local people and give them a voice in decisions made about their communities. In power we work to protect the services people most value, and to protect the most vulnerable in society. We do this making best use of public money.

1 Given 25 million ordinary working people an income tax cut. link

2 Raised the full state pension by a further £5.30 a week. link

3 Launched a contract guaranteeing every out of work young person the chance to earn or learn. link

4 Completely cut the income tax bill for 1million of the country’s lowest earners. link

5 Pumped an extra £1.25 billion into our schools to help every disadvantaged pupil. link

6 Forced the banks to pay an extra £2.5bn in tax every year. link

7 Targeted an extra £7bn from tax avoiders. link

8 Delivered the world’s first green investment bank. link

9 Provided councils with £150m for sustainable transport. link

10 Launched the UK’s largest ever apprenticeship programme – 600,000 so far. link

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Simon Hughes has today launched a blistering attack on Labour’s waste of taxpayers’ money.

Liberal Democrat research published today shows that Labour are wasting millions of pounds on vanity projects, executive car services and corporate communications while slashing library services, closing dementia centres and ending support for the most vulnerable.

Simon Hughes is calling on voters to stop Labour turning more of our councils into nearly bankrupt authorities, just like they did to the country.

Commenting, Simon Hughes said:

“When Ed Miliband said he had a special responsibility to show us that every pound that is spent by Labour, is spent wisely, he clearly forgot to tell his councillors.

“Labour councils have failed their own leader’s test. Rather than spending money on essential services and supporting the most vulnerable, they want to waste money on executive cars, cabinets for silverware and oil paintings.

“Liberal Democrats in councils across the country are making the best calls for local people. That is why Liberal Democrat-controlled councils are freezing council tax this year, are most likely to offer pay rises for the lowest paid and are still managing to open libraries instead of closing them.

“A vote for Liberal Democrat candidates on Thursday is a vote to stop Labour wasting our money locally just like they did nationally.”

Before you vote on Thursday in the local elections in North East Lincolnshire, you might like to read a message that I have received from the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Simon Hughes. I hope you will take the time to read the email before you decide how to cast your vote on Thursday.

Dear Les,

In times like these, deciding who will run your council is more important than ever. Who will look after your money? Who will make scarce resources go further?

Labour councils have been spending millions on cars, redesigning their own plush offices and even suggesting a wine terrace. Labour councillors in Hull spent £8,000 on a new silverware cabinet!

Read more about Labour’s abysmal record of council spending here.

We need councillors who spend money wisely.

And the Conservatives are no better!

In Cambridgeshire they gave themselves a 19% pay rise, in Hammersmith and Fulham they spent £7,000 on a leaving party for their Chief Executive, and in Seaford they put up council tax by almost 10% to help pay for a Jubilee party.

We need councillors who spend money to protect services.

Liberal Democrats are making the right calls for their communities in difficult times.

Unlike Labour and the Conservatives, every Liberal Democrat council in England is freezing council tax. We’re opening libraries in Cardiff, Portsmouth and Bristol and our councils are more likely than any other to give low-paid workers a pay rise.

You can help us elect more Lib Dem councillors on Thursday by voting for us at your local polling station. You don’t need your polling card to vote. If you’re not sure where your polling station is, you can contact your local council.

Whether you have elections in your area or not, you can help by sharing Labour’s abysmal record on Facebook or Twitter.

Thank you for your support.

Yours sincerely,

Simon Hughes MP

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats

Remember when you receive a knock on the door or telephone call from a Labour Councillor; don’t forget they left Great Britain PLC ‘broke’.

These are not my words, it was the words of the former Labour Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liam Byrne to David Laws; when he said: “I’m afraid there is no money.”

We all know things are tough and the Liberal Democrats are trying to protect the most vulnerable in our society by increasing the income tax threshold for low paid workers, and giving a pupil premium to our young children in disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

There is also good news for pensioners, thanks to Liberal Democrats they are getting the largest single ever rise in the full state pension, something that would not have been delivered by Labour.

Because of a Liberal Democrat commitment we have ensured that pensions increase in line with earnings, inflation or 2.5% (whichever is higher). This year, that guarantees everyone a 5.2% rise.

It means those people on the full state pension – 65% of British pensioners – have been given a cash rise of £5.30 a week,which is the highest ever increase. This is on top of the £4.50 increase last year. Since we came to power it means pensioners on the full state pension are getting £500 a year more than they were under Labour.

As well as increasing the state pension this Government is protecting Winter Fuel Payments, free prescriptions and eye tests, free bus travel and free TV licences for older pensioners.

Labour leaflets across the country are saying Liberal Democrats are cutting them. This is simply not true!

Our priorities are clear. In difficult times we must make sure we do all we can to help ordinary working people. That is why, unlike Labour or the Conservatives, every Liberal Democrat council in England has frozen council tax. That is why Liberal Democrat councils are more likely to earmark funds for the lowest paid than any other. And that is why this month Liberal Democrats in Government are delivering tax cuts for more than 21million working people.

Lib Dem councillors across the country work hard for local people. We listen to local people and give them a voice in decisions made about their communities. In power we work to protect the services people most value, and to protect the most vulnerable in society. We do this making best use of public money.

This month Liberal Democrat policy has:

- Given £1.25billion extra to our schools, aimed at the most disadvantaged pupils

- Raised the Income Tax threshold again, increasing the number of people lifted out of paying income tax altogether to more than 1 million

- Given 21million people a £130 tax cut, on top of the £200 tax cut they received last year

- Ensured pensioners on the full state pension will get a record £5.30 a week increase in their pensions. The full state pension has increased by £500 since the Coalition came into power

- Started a £1billion Youth Contract to make sure every out-of-work young person has the opportunity to earn or learn

THE statement of persons nominated in the 2012 North East Lincolnshire Council elections has now been published.

The statement and other information about the elections, on May 3, can be found at http://ht.ly/a60YT