News

Millions risk being unable to vote as registration deadline looms

Published

2 years ago

June 10, 2024

SO far only 1.1m applications to register to vote have been made since the election was called, ahead of the voter registration deadline on Tuesday, June 18th. Last year, the Electoral Commission found that up to 8 million people were not registered to vote or registered incorrectly.

If the spike before the local elections is included this number rises only to 1.8m in total. The Electoral Reform Society is urging any unregistered voters to take the time to register this week to ensure they can cast their vote on July 4. The easiest way to register is via the government portal at gov.uk/register-to-vote.

There are substantial demographic inequalities in terms of the different people more likely to be registered to vote. Electoral Commission figures show that young people are far less likely to be registered to vote than older people, with 60% of 18 and 19-year-olds registered in Great Britain and 67% of 20-24-year-olds, compared to 96% of over 65s.

Private renters are far less likely to be registered (65% in GB) compared to homeowners, 95% of whom are registered.

Voters who are registered also face a new potential barrier to casting their vote next month, as this will be the first general election where they will be required to show Voter ID at the polling station. Figures by the Electoral Commission show that 14,000 voters have already been prevented from casting their vote due to not having an accepted form of ID at last year’s local elections.

The Electoral Reform Society is calling for the next Government to make this the last election where voters must register to vote by bringing in Automatic Voter Registration (AVR). Wales is planning to introduce AVR, with legislation progressing through the Senedd currently. This should be introduced for 2026, pending a successful pilot. 

The ERS is calling for AVR to be rolled out across the whole of the UK to make it easier for people to cast their vote and enfranchise the millions of missing voters.

Willie Sullivan, Senior Director of the Electoral Reform Society, said: “With just a week to go before the voter registration deadline, the number of applications to register is being dwarfed by the amount of people missing from our electoral roles. This means a huge effort is needed to avoid millions of people being locked out of being able to have their say in the general election.

“Participation is a vital sign of the health of our democracy, so it is crucial that as many people as possible are able to vote on July 4. We are urging anyone still unregistered to take the time over the next week to register ahead of the deadline next Tuesday.

“We are also calling on whoever is in government after July 4 to bring in Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) to make sure we are not in the scandalous situation again of having millions of people unable to vote due to being unregistered.

“Moving to AVR would make life easier for voters by taking one more thing off their to-do list and strengthen our democracy by helping enfranchise the millions of people missing from our electoral roles.”

Community

Milford Haven Carnival organisers appeal for help from residents

Published

6 hours ago

July 1, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MILFORD HAVEN ROUND TABLE is asking residents in Hakin and Hubberston to help keep roads clear ahead of this Saturday’s Carnival Procession.

Organisers say the event is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet, with a large number of floats, lorries and support vehicles expected to make their way through Hakin before the procession begins at Waterloo Square.

Residents living along Gelliswick Road, Rectory Avenue, Glebelands and Picton Road, particularly near the junction with Observatory Avenue, are being asked to avoid double parking or parking on pavements where possible between around 11.45am and 1.00pm.

The route being used by the floats and support vehicles is shown on the map.

Some of the vehicles involved are large, and organisers say keeping the roads as clear as possible for the short period will help ensure the procession reaches Waterloo Square safely and on time.

Milford Haven Round Table said the carnival “belongs to the whole community” and thanked residents for their continued support.

They added: “Your understanding and cooperation, even for this short time, will make a huge difference and help make this year’s Carnival another fantastic day for our town.”

Residents are also being encouraged to share the message with friends, family and neighbours who live along the affected roads.

Crime

New Year’s Day drug-driver banned after police stop in Milford Haven

Published

6 hours ago

July 1, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A NEW YEAR’S EVE drive has resulted in a 12-month road ban after a motorist was found to be more than twice the legal cannabis limit.

Ridwan Rahman, 20, was stopped by police as he drove his Vauxhall Astra along Steynton Road, Milford Haven, on January 1.

“Police noted the car accelerating away from traffic lights in an erratic manner,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“When officers asked the vehicle to stop, they smelt cannabis coming from inside.”

A blood test later showed Rahman had 5.2mcg of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in cannabis, in his system. The legal limit is 2mcg.

Rahman, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to drug-driving. He was represented in court by solicitor Alaw Harries, who disputed the prosecution’s claim that he had been driving erratically.

“He does not accept that he was driving in an erratic manner, nor that he accelerated away from the traffic lights,” she said.

“The officers told him he had been stopped because the vehicle’s registration plate light was not working.”

Rahman, of Carbon Close, Newport, was fined £323 and ordered to pay a £129 court surcharge and £85 costs.

He was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Crime

Fishguard man jailed after breaching order banning contact with mother

Published

6 hours ago

July 1, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A FISHGUARD man has been jailed after breaching a restraining order which banned him from contacting his mother.

Steven O’Sullivan attended his mother’s home on June 22, despite the order having been imposed in November 2012. It prohibited him from having any direct or indirect contact with her.

“She felt she needed to phone the police because she was frightened of her son,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“He had been dropped off at his mother’s property by a female, and his mother went upstairs to ring the police because he makes her feel vulnerable.”

When officers arrived, they found O’Sullivan inside an outbuilding, crouching beside an outside toilet.

“There have been a number of previous breaches, the most recent being on June 5,” continued Ms Vaughan. “Now we have yet another one on June 22.”

O’Sullivan, of Gwelfor, Fishguard, is currently on remand at Swansea Prison. He is also accused of stealing beer and food worth £45 from the Nisa store in Haverfordwest on June 21.

Representing him in court, solicitor Tom Lloyd said there had been no threats of violence when O’Sullivan went to his mother’s home.

“But the aggravating factor is his previous convictions,” he told the bench.

“He was particularly upset and had nowhere else to go. This was why he went to see his mother.”

Magistrates jailed O’Sullivan for eight weeks. He was also ordered to pay a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.

He is due to return to Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on July 7 to enter a plea in relation to the alleged theft offence.