At a South Oxfordshire polling station, Boris Johnson, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, was unable to vote in the recent local elections because he did not bring the required photo identification.
Why was Boris Johnson turned away from voting in UK local elections?
According to reports, Johnson arrived at a polling station only to be reminded of the regulations he had helped to establish.
In 2022, Johnson’s government introduced the Elections Act, which mandated that all voters must present a form of photo ID, such as a passport or driving license, at polling stations to combat voter fraud.
This law took effect from last year, but the recent elections were the first significant test of the new system across England and Wales.
Unfortunately for Johnson, he arrived at the polling station without the necessary identification and was consequently turned away by the staff.
British media, including Sky News, reported that after initially being denied the ability to vote, Johnson was later able to return with his ID and cast his ballot, reaffirming his support for the Conservative Party.
Did you know? – Boris Johnson is no longer a British MP
In June 2023, Boris Johnson announced his resignation as an MP, triggering a by-election for his Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat.
This decision followed a contentious period marked by an investigation led by the MP-led Privileges Committee into allegations that Johnson misled Parliament concerning lockdown parties at Downing Street.
Johnson contested the committee’s findings vehemently, expressing shock and accusing the committee of bias and of conducting a politically motivated “kangaroo court.”
In his resignation statement, Johnson lamented the process as unfair and criticised the committee for lacking impartiality, suggesting that their primary goal was to remove him from Parliament.
He highlighted his long service as an MP, which began in 2001, and his achievements both as the Mayor of London and as Prime Minister.
Johnson’s departure from Parliament ended his direct involvement in British politics, although he expressed his intention to continue supporting the Conservative Party from outside the political arena.
