Burnham faces questions over plans to speed up electoral law changes

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, of the Labour Party, is facing questions over the government's intention to speed up sweeping changes to the electoral system. The issue has emerged amid speculation that some of his closest advisers are pressing for an early general election.

According to the Sunday Telegraph, ministers want to at least halve the time the House of Lords, Parliament's upper chamber, spends examining the representation of the people bill: from an expected 10 days to fewer than five. This is despite plans for further substantial amendments. The bill would make it possible to vote without photographic ID, lower the voting age to 16 and tighten restrictions on political donations.

Political context

The reports come days after Labour defeated Green party leader Zack Polanski in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection, and after Burnham's own recent win in Makerfield. Both results have fuelled debate within the party over whether he should call an election to seek a fresh mandate. The prime minister need not hold one before 2029 and has repeatedly ruled out an early poll.

What the bill contains

The legislation was first introduced under former prime minister Keir Starmer. It would let voters use bank cards without photographs as proof of identity at polling stations, easing rules brought in by the Conservatives in 2022. Critics say the photo ID requirement disproportionately affects young people, people on lower incomes and minority ethnic communities.

Polling published by the Guardian after the last general election suggested 6.5% of minority ethnic voters surveyed had been turned away at least once, against 2.5% of white voters. The Electoral Commission estimated that about 16,000 people who tried to vote in person could not do so for lack of ID and did not return. The commission has also warned that accepting bank cards would make it harder for polling station staff to verify identities.

Burnham was one of seven Labour mayors who criticised the rules in 2024, calling them a “brazen assault on our democracy”. The bill also forms part of efforts to tighten political funding rules amid concern over foreign interference. The Guardian reported that ministers were planning donation restrictions that could retrospectively affect the £72m given to Reform UK by crypto billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne.

A government spokesperson said the bill is going through the proper parliamentary process and repeated that the PM has ruled out an early election. Tory peers have accused ministers of rushing the changes, while Liberal Democrat peer Mark Pack warned of the risks of significant amendments without sufficient scrutiny.