LABOUR branded the Tories’ draconian plans to force voters to bring proof of ID to polling booths “one of the most stupid ideas ever” today after the government admitted it could cost more than £20 million to roll it out across Britain.

Labour joined the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) in demanding the government abandon plans for voter ID checks after the exorbitant cost was revealed in a Cabinet Office paper published before the summer recess.

The government has said it will plough ahead with the plans despite the price tag and Electoral Commission estimates showing that 1,036 people — 0.6 per cent of voters — were turned away from the five pilot areas in May’s local elections.