John Swinney: Postal vote issues risk 'disenfranchising' Scottish voters

THE First Minister has warned the public could become disenfranchised with the crisis surrounding postal votes.

During a campaign event in Glasgow's West End, John Swinney  praised efforts by the City of Edinburgh Council and Fife Council to ensure people who had not received postal ballots were still able to vote.

However, he added that he was being "inundated" with concerns from voters and said he expected there to be an inquiry into the fiasco.

"There are steps that can be taken by local authorities to make facilities available so people can vote," he said

"I very much welcome what the City of Edinburgh Council did yesterday, other local authorities are considering that as well.

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“I’ve asked the election management board to address the fact that some local authorities have done that but others have not done so.

“I’m inundated in my inbox. I suspect there’ll be effects on all political parties.

“But I think the crucial point is the disenfranchisement of individuals.”

He said that the voter ID requirement brought in by the UK Government was “designed to put people off” and more effort should be made to encourage people to vote.

Swinney added: “What the UK Government’s decided to do, we will not be doing that in Scotland.

(Image: Gordon Terris)

“We should be maximising the participation of people in elections, not making it more tricky.”

After donning some yellow sunglasses and posing with campaigners, Swinney took aim at Labour after Gordon Brown said the party would "turn the tide" on child poverty if elected.

This is despite the fact that Keir Starmer has repeatedly refused to scrap the two-child benefit cap, which prevents parents from claiming child tax credit or universal credit for more than two children,

“Keir Starmer will be the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom but there’s still one part of the country which still has a vibrant election campaign – that’s here in Scotland," said Swinney.

“We need to make sure we elect SNP MPs in Westminster.

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"A Labour Prime Minister will be carrying on a Tory agenda of austerity and the two-child limit – we have got to have SNP MPs in Westminster.

“What we know is that when decisions are made in Scotland, for Scotland, they are the best decisions.”

Asked about the possibility that Dundee could be targeted by Reform, Swinney added: “I have never gone into polling thinking I can take the day off.

“Even when we’ve been miles ahead I’ve gone in saying ‘I’m not judging this.’”