Sadiq Khan MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, responding to the Written Ministerial Statement on the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, said:

“Ed Miliband warned weeks ago that nearly a million voters had disappeared off the register and these figures published today confirm Labour’s worst fears.

“They are a direct consequence of  the way the Tories and Liberal Democrats hastily forced through changes  to the way people register to vote. Ministers ignored warnings from experts, including the Electoral Commission, that young people, students and people living in private rented accommodation risked losing their vote, pushing ahead regardless, over-riding sensible safeguards that would have prevented this from happening. 

“This is a disaster for our democracy.

“The result of this General Election will have huge consequences for the young. It will affect education and training at schools, colleges and universities. It will have an impact on the quantity and quality of jobs available afterwards. It will affect the rent paid for a first home and the chances of buying one. But it is precisely these young voices which are being silenced.”