The election commission said it was “concerned” about its future independence after the government passed a new law to put it under ministerial control.
The changes included in the election bill, which was finally passed by the House of Lords on Wednesday night, will give the government broad powers to guide the election observer’s priorities.
Opponents say the changes threaten free and fair elections and represent an “authoritarian seizure of power” that will allow ministers to determine how electoral law applies to their own parties and political opponents.
Under the bill, which was passed by 202 votes to 181, the secretary of state will be able to unilaterally issue a “declaration of purpose” that sets out the Commission’s priorities.
The bill will also automatically add a government minister to the committee that oversees and oversees the work of the commission – strengthening the Tory majority.
The bill was defeated by colleagues on Monday, but was returned to the upper house two days later, a move that, according to House of Lords sources, caught opposition parties unprepared.
Only 67 Labor colleagues turned out to vote against the measure, 70 Liberal Democrats, 33 Crusaders and three rebel Conservatives. The House of Lords has 767 members and a built-in opposition majority, but many colleagues do not always show up to vote.
Opposition parties were surprised by how many Tories appeared on Wednesday and failed to stop the bill, although they had done so two days earlier.
In response to the vote, a spokesman for the Electoral Commission said: “As a regulator of political finance and a body that monitors free and fair elections, the way we work and our decisions must remain independent. This is the basis of justice and trust in the electoral system, as well as public and inter-party trust in the Commission.
“We remain concerned about the potential impact of this measure and look forward to formal consultation on the proposed government statement once it becomes available.
“All parties stated during the parliamentary consideration of the Election Bill that the independence of the election commission is vital for the functioning of a healthy democracy. The Commission will continue to act in an independent and impartial manner to help maintain public confidence in the UK elections.
The bill also introduces a requirement to identify voters in elections, which critics say will make it disproportionately difficult for demographic groups that prefer opposition parties to vote by suppressing voter turnout.
Kyle Taylor, director of the Fair Vote UK campaign group, said the government had essentially “voted to formally end the independence of the election commission” and that the new powers meant “ministers can effectively falsify election rules in their favor”.
“This is how countries slide into authoritarianism,” he added. “First you take control of the institutions, then you manipulate them in your favor and ban loud protests so that people cannot respond. This is a black day for democracy. “
Naomi Smith, chief executive of the Best for Britain campaign group, said: “Last night was the last chance to defend the independence of the election observer and thus free and fair elections in the United Kingdom.
“Despite the enormous efforts of inter-party, cross-organizational resistance against the government’s authoritarian seizure of power, tonight the Johnson regime has succeeded in its last attempt to avoid responsibility.
“There is an urgent need now to overthrow this government and to undo the damage it has done to our institutions and public confidence in politics. Opposition parties must work together to make this a reality. “
Liberal Democrat spokesman Alistair Carmichael told The Independent that “any threat to the Electoral Commission’s independence” is “an existential threat to democracy in the UK”.
“We cannot allow Boris Johnson to rewrite the rules to support his failing government.
“Liberal Democrats are committed to free and fair elections, as any political party should be. We will continue to oppose the Conservative’s constant attempts to undermine our democracy and ensure that everyone can hear their voice. “
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