Local elections 2018: voters being turned away in ID trial areas – live

Follow the latest developments as voters go to the polls in the biggest test for the political parties since the general election.Five key questions about the local electionsThe worst campaign leaflet howlersHave you been affected by the voter ID trial? 2.51pm BST The EU plans to defy Tory Brexiters and retain its offices in London – the former Conservative central office at 32 Smith Square – as an outpost from which to communicate with British citizens after Brexit, leaked documents reveal.High-profile Brexiters had called last year for the EU to hand back the large red-brick building that was previously Margaret Thatcher’s headquarters and the scene of her general election victories. Related: EU defies Tory Brexiters in leaked plan to retain Westminster offices 2.45pm BST Voter ID problems continue to be reported in the trial areas.Angela Wilkins, leader of the Labour group in Bromley, counted five people being turned away because lack of voter ID at various Bromley polling stations. Just been round the C Palace polling stations. 5 people not able to vote due to #voterID pilot and several walked away because of queues @CatSmithMP @labour4bromley . So why are we doing this .@LBBromley ?In the 3 Woking polling stations I visited this morning, the number of cups of tea I was offered by the wonderful polling station staff was > the number of voters turned away for not having any of the accepted forms of photo ID #pollingday #localelections2018 pic.twitter.com/zQYooMei81I voted in Watford with polling card only- needed to state my name and address- did not need to show any Photo IDA free and fair election is where the same rules apply everywhere. Why have Tories introduced ID requirements in boroughs with large % of ethnic minority voters like Swindon. Scrap postal votes and other electoral fraud and have fair elections elsewhere.The presiding officer at the polling station in Sydenham Tennis Club, in the Borough of Bromley, said “Only a very small percentage” of voters had forgotten or were unable to provide ID. The man, who did not wish to be named, said residents had received five pieces of information explaining the change in the rules, including leaflets, a note with their polling cards and a note on the information about recycling and bin collection. Continue reading…
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