New law to end postal fraud

Labour is preparing to rush through legislation after the election to stamp out postal-voting fraud, it emerged today.

The revelation will be seen as a clear acknowledgment by ministers that the present system is open to widespread abuse.

The reforms will introduce a new offence of fraudulently applying for a postal vote. Labour is also under pressure to bring in individual registration - where members of the household have to register separately - after the election.

A leaked memo showed that ministers had considered introducing individual registration last year but dropped the plans amid fears the tighter controls would hit turnout among young voters.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw became the first Cabinet minister to admit there were "serious weaknesses" in present system.

"What has been exposed is a serious weakness in the system which will have to be dealt with. If the electoral process is corrupted, everybody suffers. Where weaknesses are ascertained we will have to deal with them," he said.

Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat spokesman for local government, said: "This is far too little, far too late and an admission that postal votes could be defrauded at this election."

The row erupted as a YouGov/Sunday Times poll found wide unease about the system.

Nearly two thirds of those polled, 64 per cent, agreed that postal voting should be stopped until security has been improved.