Get ready for lots of complaining and squealing from Labour politicians in Westminster and Great Yarmouth as the government pushes ahead with new measures to combat election fraud.

Fortunately, this is not a significant issue, if at all, here in Norfolk. But we have seen a recent increase in fraudulent voting elsewhere in the country. As a nation, we pride ourselves in running fair, open and transparent elections. Yet that reputation is tarnished by more frequent incidences of impersonation and multiple voting. The Electoral Commission, responsible for the operation of our voting process, recommended back in 2014 that we should introduce Voter ID in this country.

People casting their vote in a polling station do not normally need to produce any form of identification before receiving a ballot paper. From next year’s local election, we will need to provide photographic ID – a driving licence, passport, older person bus pass, or a new free-of-charge voter document from our local council – before we can vote.

It’s a simple solution to tackling a growing problem. And recent pilot schemes proved that it did not prove a hindrance people to voting. Yet, the Labour Party are shouting about how unfair this is. This opposition is ironic from a party that set up the Electoral Commission and now wishes to ignore its advice. And from a Party that wanted us all to have a National ID card that could be checked at any time. Of course, we will hear lots of misinformation about how it will disenfranchise people who can’t afford a passport or driving licence – even though they will be able to get a free voter pass from the council.

It seems odd that Labour will kick up a fuss about a straightforward issue when they should be concentrating on the chaos their Trade Union paymasters are causing as they disrupt people’s everyday lives. Or tell us how they would solve cost-of-living pressures and help households with energy bills. Could it be they simply don’t have a plan?