BORIS Johnson was turned away from a polling station today after he forgot to bring his photo ID.
The former PM fell foul of the very legislation he introduced in 2022, which mandates all voters must present a valid form of ID in order to cast their vote at the ballot box.
ReutersFormer Prime Minister Boris Johnson was turned away from a polling station on Thursday[/caption]
APThe ex-PM and Mayor of London, seen with wife Carrie, forgot to bring his photo ID[/caption]
Jack Hill/The TimesJohnson himself introduced the legislation in 2022[/caption]
There is a particular focus on several battlegrounds across England
The incident happened in South Oxfordshire, where Mr Johnson went to vote for a new police and crime commissioner for the Thames Valley area.
He walked into the polling station ready to vote, but without his ID, Sky News reported staff had no choice but to turn him away.
There are 22 acceptable forms of ID, including passports, driving licences and older or disabled person’s bus passes.
A spokesman for Mr Johnson did not deny he had forgotten his ID, saying: “Mr Johnson voted Conservative.”
MINISTER APOLOGISES
It comes after Veterans Affairs minister Johnny Mercer was earlier forced to apologise with veteran cards not being accepted as valid forms of ID.
Former soldier Adam Diver was among those turned away from a polling station after showing up to vote with his veterans card.
“I am sorry about this,” Mr Mercer wrote on X.
“The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year.
“I will do all I can to change it before the next one.”
Millions have cast their votes in the local elections that sees parties face off in hundreds of contests across the country.
Both Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer will be desperate for good results to carry them into the all-important General Election later this year.
It was also a chance for smaller parties like Reform and the Lib Dems to prove themselves a credible electoral force.
Polling stations opened at 7am and closed at 10pm.
Results across 107 councils and in 10 mayoral votes will start coming in from the early hours of Friday and continue into the weekend.
Elections are taking place for regional mayors, councils, and police and crime commissioners.
A separate by-election is also underway in Blackpool South to replace the scandal-hit ex-Tory Scott Benton.
The seaside seat is being closely watched to see if Labour can make inroads back into the Red Wall.
Other key battlegrounds include the West Midlands and Tees Valley mayoral races where the Tories are trying to cling on.
Downing Street fears a double defeat could reignite disgruntled Tory plotters to move against the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, in London Sadiq Khan is trying to hang on as he comes under fire for his “dismal” record these past eight years.
IF GENERAL ELECTIONS ARE A PRIZE FIGHT- LOCAL ELECTIONS ARE MATCH WEIGH IN
By Jack Elsom, Chief Political Correspondent
IF this year’s General Election is shaping up to be a prize political fight, then Thursday’s locals are the all-important pre-match weigh-in.
Both Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer are desperate to show they are a force to be reckoned with – and will be carefully sizing up their chances based on the results.
As a final test for the main parties before the race for No10, they will prove crucial in setting the political weather for the next few months.
While hundreds of skirmishes will take place for councils, mayoralties and police commissioners, there is a particular focus on several battlegrounds.
Mr Sunak wants to show voters – and restless Tory plotters – that he still has scope to close the gap on Sir Keir a shot at reelection.
Whereas the Labour leader will be hoping for the colossal Blair-style swings he needs to overturn the party’s 2019 thrashing.
PACurrent Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and wife Saadiya Khan headed along this morning, too – with dog Luna[/caption]
GettyLabour leader Sir Keir Starmer and wife Victoria were all smiles after they voted this morning[/caption]