Powys County Council’s Leader and Deputy Leader have written to UK Government Ministers following reports that some veterans were unable to vote in yesterday’s elections.

The UK Government introduced a requirement for voters to produce photo ID to be able to vote in non-devolved elections, although failed to add its veterans ID cards to the approved list of acceptable voter ID. Yesterday (Thursday) it was reported that some veterans were turned away from polling stations and unable to vote because of this.

Now Cllrs Matthew Dorrance and James Gibson-Watt have written to the Minister for Veterans Affairs and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, urging them to fix the problem.

Cllr Matthew Dorrance, the Council Cabinet Member for the Armed Forces Partnership and Armed Forces Champion said: “The UK Government failed veterans yesterday and they’ve failed to respect their service.

“They introduced the rules for voter ID and the veterans ID card. I can’t believe they failed to make sure our veterans, who have defended democracy at home and abroad, could take part in our elections with their veterans ID cards yesterday.

“I’ve asked the UK Government to fix this problem and ensure that the veterans ID card is added to the approved list of acceptable voter ID without delay.”

Yesterday, Veterans' Affairs Minister Johnny Mercer apologised on X (formerly Twitter) to a former Army officer after he said he was turned away from the polling station with a Veteran ID.

Mr Mercer said: “The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year. I will do all I can to change it before the next one.”