Boris Johnson thanks Oxfordshire villagers who refused to let him vote without ID

Former Prime Minister was turned away form polling station in Oxfordshire for not having valid identification. Credit: PA Wire/PA Images.

Boris Johnson has thanked three villagers who turned the former prime minister away from a polling station in South Oxfordshire on Thursday for attempting to vote without a valid ID.

Writing for the Daily Mail, Mr Johnson said he attempted to use a copy of Prospect magazine as a form of identification, but was turned away by local electorate officials.

Mr Johnson wrote: “I want to pay a particular tribute to the three villagers who on Thursday rightly turned me away when I appeared in the polling station with nothing to prove my identity except the sleeve of my copy of Prospect magazine, on which my name and address had been printed.

“I showed it to them and they looked very dubious.

"Within minutes I was back with my driving licence and voted Tory.”

The requirement to provide photo ID was introduced by Mr Johnson during his time in Downing Street. Credit: Charles McQuillan/PA.

Boris Johnson was voting where a police and crime commissioner for Thames Valley was being elected.

The requirement to provide photo ID was introduced by Mr Johnson during his time in Downing Street as part of the Elections Act 2022.

Thursday’s election was the first time many voters in England and Wales had to present ID to vote under provisions first rolled out at last year’s local elections.

Acceptable forms of ID include a passport, driving licence, Proof of Age Standards Scheme (Pass) cards, Blue Badges, and some concessionary travel cards.

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