A MEASURE which would mean voters showing ID at polling stations before voting is a "blatant attempt" to stifle democracy, according to Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP Lesley Laird.

The UK Government announced this week the plan, which is aimed at preventing voter fraud.

And with a General Election expected within months it will be a talking point..

However, Ms Laird said not everyone owned a form of ID and insisted the move could suppress voters and reduce turnout.

Her claims have been refuted and the UK Government, who say anyone without an approved form of ID will be able to apply, free of charge, for a local electoral ID.

It said that in areas where the scheme had already been piloted, the Electoral Commission found a notable increase in the number of people who found electoral fraud not to be a problem.

Ms Laird, however, fears nearly 11 million people would be adversely affected by the proposals.

“This is a blatant attempt by this Government to stifle democracy," she said. “For many people the money to pay for either a passport or a driver’s licence is quite simply something that they cannot afford – far less even own a car.

“When you look at the levels of poverty in Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath there will be many people who quite simply will not own a passport or a driver’s licence and they will be denied their right to vote.

“This move would disproportionally stop the least well-off in our society from taking part in the democratic process and simply further disenfranchises many people who already feel let down.

“Voting is something everyone of voting age should be free and able to do. It is the most basic part of our democracy.

“Voter turnout in this constituency is already lower than the UK average, poverty levels are high, and these proposed plans threaten to only make that engagement even lower.”

Minister for the Constitution, Kevin Foster MP, said stealing someone's vote was stealing their voice.

"The potential for voter fraud in our current system undermines its integrity and this is not acceptable," he said. "Showing ID to vote is a reasonable and proportionate way to protect our elections – it is something people of all walks of life already do everyday and voters in Northern Ireland have been doing it with ease for many years.

"We are taking a broad range of actions to strengthen our electoral system because the public deserve to have confidence that their vote is secure."