Mayor demands urgent action over voter registration
February 2006

Councillor Steve Reed talking about Lambeth's Liberal Democrats shoddy record on equalities issues

Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, has said he wants to see urgent action to tackle the low level of voter registration in many of the London's boroughs.

His comments came after reports that Lambeth Council was not carrying out a further round of door-step registration of electors, despite experiencing low rates of voter registration.

The Electoral Commission estimates that nationally around 8 to 9 percent of the eligible population are not registered. London has the worst voter registration levels in the whole of the UK. Evidence also suggests that among Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities in London the level of non-registration is highest.

For 6 months, despite the intensive lobbying by Operation Black Vote and local campaigners to get Lambeth Council to tackle the under-representation of black and minority ethnic residents they have failed to commit the £60,000 needed to canvass residents door-to-door. In other boroughs with a large proportion of people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, voter registration drives have achieved higher levels.

Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London said:

'It is becoming clear that we face a deep problem in London of under-registration of voters. Many were rightly critical when the United States experienced problems over the voter registration scandal in Florida in the 1999 election, but this means we must be equally vigilant in defence of our own electoral rights.

'I have been particularly shocked by the actions of Lambeth council, which has not proceeded with a further door-step voter registration drive despite having the lowest voter registration rate in London. The abandonment of door-step registration on whatever grounds, even "value for money", cannot be justified given the democratic deficit that has opened up in Lambeth. It is estimated that the door-step canvassing would have cost £60,000, a small price to pay to ensure that democracy functions properly in this inner-London borough.

'I am saying to Lambeth today that if this really is an issue of cost then I am prepared to make up the shortfall for this door-step registration and work to improve voter registration in the borough to see what lessons can be learned for the whole of London.

'If Lambeth won't take up this offer I have asked GLA officers to start working up our own plan to boost voter registration in Lambeth in order to see what lessons can be learned for London as a whole and to prevent the erosion of the duty of local authorities to ensure that their residents have the vote.'

Cllr Steve Reed, Leader of Lambeth's Labour Opposition said:

'Lambeth's Liberal Democrats already had a shoddy record on equalities issues even before this sorry episode. Their decision not to carry out targeted door to door canvassing to register people shows a lack of interest ensuring fair representation, and would leave a disproportionate number of people from ethinic minority communities without a voice. The Liberal Democrats have shamed themselves and their party by using voter registration as a party political football.

'It is disgraceful that the Mayor has had to step in and pay for work the Lib Dem council should have been doing already.'

Commenting on the news that Lambeth Council has been condemned by Operation Black Vote for it's failure to work to increase BME voter registration, Tessa Jowell MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said:

"I am appalled by the Liberal Democrat administration in Lambeth's refusal to carry out door to door canvassing to encourage Black residents to register to vote.

"Lambeth has one of the worst voter registration rates in the country - this is a scandal that leaves many residents without fair representation, undermining democracy and increasing inequality and social alienation.

"At a time when all political parties should be working hard to ensure everyone in society has a voice, Lambeth's Liberal Democrats are cynically seeking to cling on to power by keeping an important section of the community off the electoral register. I'm pleased that Operation Black Vote have intervened in this matter by writing to Peter Truesdale, and hope that the Liberal Democrats have got the message that their shameful conduct will not be tolerated."

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