Election Bill protest

• NORTH London Make Votes Matter, including members from Islington, were among the participants in the national day of action on February 5 to protest against the government’s Election Bill.

Now before parliament, it contains provisions:

— to introduce the undemocratic FPTP, first-past-the-post voting system for electing mayors and police and crime commissioners;

— to reduce the powers and independence of the Electoral Commission;

— to require compulsory photo ID for voting although many people, especially the poor, elderly and disabled, don’t have photo ID.

Our protest in central London, one of many around the country, was far larger than another protest but we didn’t damage any property or attack or harass anyone so we didn’t get any national publicity.

If you want see why we want to change the voting system to make all votes count equally and avoid the 70 per cent of votes cast that are “wasted”, see https://www.makevotesmatter.org.uk/

It is also worth noting that if another piece of government legislation, the policing bill, goes through, peaceful protests like ours, the only way change has happened in the United Kingdom for the last 200 years, might be banned.

BARRY EDWARDS, N7