The BBC reports: “Almost one million voters are “missing” from the electoral register in England and Wales, Ed Miliband is to say.
“In a speech, the Labour leader is expected to blame the “hasty” introduction of the new system of individual voter registration, with students particularly affected.
“People must now register to vote individually rather one member of a household filling in a form.
“Ministers say online registration has made the process easier.”
Seriously – that’s their response? That the process is now easier?
Then why are one million people now missing from it who would have been present before?
Mr Miliband is quite right to say that the number of young people not registered to vote is a “scandal” – and he’s quite right to be doing it at Sheffield Hallam University, in the constituency of Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader whose party helped the Tories push through this insult to democracy.
“Labour said 307 of 373 local authorities that provided data had recorded a reduction in their electoral roll. Overall there had been a reduction of 950,845, the party said,” according to the BBC.
Mr Miliband was expected to tell students: “This election is a hugely important moment for young people. It is a choice that will have implications now and for years to come. It is about who this country is run for: working people, young people, or just a very few people at the top?
“In this election campaign we will be publishing a Young Britain manifesto and you have the chance to help shape it by telling us what your priorities are for this campaign and for the next government.
“There is nothing more pressing at this election than the future of young people. The future of the country depends on young people and the outcome of this election will determine what kind of future young people have. Your job, your education, your home, your future depend on who wins this election.
“This government has betrayed young people. I am determined that we can fulfil the Promise of Britain so that the next generation does better than the last.”
This writer belongs to the last generation. So also do David Cameron and Nick Clegg.
In terms of performance, it seems clear that the next generation couldn’t possibly do worse than those two!
Follow me on Twitter: @MidWalesMike
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