Latest updates: criticism of voter ID plan continues after warnings that it will be a ‘huge challenge’ for already struggling local authorities
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Nicola Sturgeon and the Scottish Parliament’s other party leaders have been sworn in as MSPs, PA Media reports. PA says:
Returning and new members are being sworn in following last week’s Holyrood election.
The first minister made an affirmation, followed by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar taking the oath.
Good morning. The Queen’s speech earlier this week included a commitment to legislate to require people to provide photo ID when they vote, despite claims that this is unnecessary and that more than 2 million people might as a result find it harder go vote because they don’t now have the right documentation. So far Conservative opposition to the plan has been muted. But last night, on ITV’s Peston, Ruth Davidson, the former Conservative party leader in Scotland, condemned the idea in the strongest possible terms. She said:
They can’t cite any evidence of [electoral fraud being a problem] because I don’t think there’s ever any evidence to cite. I think in terms of this particular part of the Queen’s speech, I think it’s total bollocks, and I think it’s trying to give a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist, and that makes it politics as performance.
And I think that given where we are and the year we’ve had, we’ve got real problems to solve in this country, and the idea that this is some sort of legislative priority I think is for the birds.
.@RuthDavidsonPC tells @Peston that the government proposal on voter ID is “total bollocks”
Catch us on Twitter and ITV at 10.45pm#Peston pic.twitter.com/pCnZwUIyMX
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