Tory MP Tom Hunt blames dyspraxia for losing vital photo ID he needed to vote in election

A Tory MP has blamed his dyspraxia for losing the vital photo ID he needed to vote in Thursday's elections.

Tom Hunt was forced to arrange an emergency proxy vote.

The Ipswich MP sent a message to his local Conservative membership stating: “Bit of drama. Turns out I have no appropriate ID to vote tomorrow.

“There is an emergency proxy option if you lose your ID... who would like the honours?”He said people mocking him online for the error were "persecuting" him and warned them to be "very careful with their words".

"I don't want to blame everything on my dyspraxia, but it's a factor in my life I have to deal with,” he added.

"It's all well and good people saying we need to have more neurodiverse Members of Parliament, but having a massive pile-on on them, I don't think it's going to encourage more people."

Voters are required to present photo ID to take part in Thursday's local, mayoral, and police and crime commissioner polls.

This is because of the Elections Act 2022, a law change first put to the test during the May 2023 local elections.

Acceptable forms of ID include a passport, driving licence, Proof of Age Standards Scheme (Pass) cards, Blue Badges, and 60+ Oyster cards.

Young person TfL travel passes do not count.

Election chiefs issued a last-minute appeal for voters in London and other regions to turn up with photo ID for the May 2 polls on Wednesday.

The Electoral Commission stressed that if people fail to do so they will not be able to take part the elections.

People whose ID has been lost, stolen or damaged can apply for an emergency proxy vote until 5pm on polling day, allowing someone else to vote on their behalf.

Mr Hunt said he had not previously been aware of this provision, but had applied for an emergency proxy vote, saying it is "the system working well".

One form of ID that is not accepted at polling stations is the veterans ID card, introduced at the start of this year.

Veterans minister Johnny Mercer issued an apology on Twitter, after reports emerged of a former soldier unable to use their veterans card at a polling station.

"I am sorry about this," Mr Mercer wrote in response to a post from someone who had been turned away from a polling station after presenting their veterans card.

He added: "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."

Both Mr Hunt and Mr Mercer voted for the voter ID scheme when it was before the Commons.

A government spokesman said: “Our intention is for the new Veteran Card, which was rolled out in January 2024, to be added to the official list of recognised identification – and we are already consulting on this.

“Defence Identity cards for serving Armed Forces members are already accepted.

“The introduction of the requirement to show photographic identification for voting in person across Great Britain is in line with longstanding arrangements in Northern Ireland and elsewhere, and has been recommended by international election watchdogs, including the Electoral Commission.

“The vast majority of voters in the polling station - 99.75 per cent - cast their vote successfully at the local elections in England in May 2023, and we are confident that they will be able to do so at these polls.”