Responding to the votes on the controversial Elections Bill, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Political and Constitutional Reform, Alistair Carmichael MP, said: “Rather than strengthening our democracy by getting behind efforts to build a better politics with a fairer electoral system, Conservative Ministers have instead voted to expand the use of the clapped-out First Past The Post, all while making it harder for people to vote. It really does beggar belief.

“Their voter ID proposals are not only discriminatory, but a blatant undermining of our democratic rights. Whether it’s this, thinly veiled threats to our national broadcaster or a draconian clampdown on protests, Boris Johnson and his Government are hell-bent on ducking and diving from accountability at every turn – hardly surprising given their recent exploits.
“What comes as no surprise, however, is a fervent desire from the Conservatives to entrench themselves within a system that breeds the entitlement and self-serving behaviour we have seen over the past few weeks.
“While the Tories do anything to rig the system in their favour, the Liberal Democrats will continue to campaign so that the results of our elections match the votes that go into them.”