We live under a divisive political administration, supported by press and media outlets that encourage different groups in an active hostility to ‘other’.

As pensioners, we are aware of elements of the media that represent us as well-off, living in large houses, bought when property was affordable; blocking NHS hospital beds, preventing working taxpayers from accessing health services, and - thanks to the triple lock on pensions - continuing to receive even more wealth!

A divisive society is neither healthy nor safe. So I am asking pensioners to demonstrate our disagreement with system that allows pensioners to use their travel passes as voter ID but does not allow young people, of voting age, to use theirs.

Electoral reforms.org.uk research into the 2019 election found that out of 58 million votes cast, there were 33 allegations of voter impersonation at the polling stations. These allegations led to ONE conviction and four police cautions for impersonation of a voter, or voter fraud.

The cost to the taxpayer of insisting voters have photographic ID is £180,000,000 every ten years, (electoral reform.org.uk). Can there be any logic to spending this amount on preventing such a minuscule number of frauds?

Pat Cochrane has been looking at who doesn't vote because of the need of IDPat Cochrane has been looking at can't vote because not having the correct ID (Image: HPAG)

Then there is the question of who is going to be excluded from voting because of not having the appropriate ID? Statistics from the Electoral Commission last year revealed ID rules mean young people, minorities and those from deprived communities are most likely to be turned away from polling stations.

The cross-party Levelling up, Housing and Communities Committee report of March 24, 2024, claims as many as eight million people could be disenfranchised at the General Election and cites voter ID as penalising many voters because of the limited number of forms of ID being permitted.

At the 2019 election, polling by YouGov showed 56% of Labour voters were in the 18 to 24 age bracket and 67% of Conservative voters are in the top 70+ age bracket.

As a pensioner, please consider taking up the cause individually and in the groups that you belong to, demanding that if we are allowed to use our bus passes then young people should be able to use their travel cards. Coming together, the old supporting the young, in unity for fairness.