Time to stop putting democracy up for sale

10.33.37am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 16th Jul 2008

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Guildford Sue Doughty has welcomed the report by the Information Commissioner Richard Thomas recommending that the practice of selling names and personal details from the electoral register be stopped as soon as possible.

Sue said, "Labour's decision in 2002 to legislate for the sale of electoral registers - presumably as a favour to their friends in the direct marketing industry - is a further diminution of the political process.

"Typically, the government has so far ducked a full response to the Information Commissioner.

"I know that voters can tick a box to say that they do not give permission for their details to be sold in that way - but not everyone sees the box and the whole approach in any event just devalues democracy by putting a price tag on voter registration".

Fiona White, leader of the Liberal Democrat Guildford Borough council group, agrees; "I share Sue's concern at this grubby approach to democracy.

"What message does it send out that you register to vote in return for the right to receive double-glazing circulars? I worry that people will be deterred from registering to vote and exercising their democratic rights as a result".

The Representation of the People ( England and Wales ) (Amendment) Regulations 2002 states that local councils must sell copies of the edited registers to anyone who asks. The wording is:

Sale of edited register

110. - (1) The registration officer shall supply a copy of the edited register to any person on payment of a fee calculated in accordance with paragraph (2) below.

(2) In the case of the register -

(a) in data form, the fee shall be at the rate of £20 plus £1.50 for each 1,000 entries (or remaining part of 1,000 entries) in it; and

(b) in printed form, the fee shall be at the rate of £10 plus £5 for each 1,000 entries (or remaining part of 1,000 entries) in it.