Labour has announced plans to repeal controversial provisions that allow ministers to direct the Electoral Commission’s strategy, moving to remove a power introduced by the Conservative government that critics said threatened the independence of the UK’s elections watchdog.

Steve Reed, the communities secretary, told MPs on Tuesday that the government will bring forward legislation to abolish the “strategy and policy statement” mechanism created by the Elections Act 2022, under which the commission was required to “have regard to” guidance set by ministers.

The change is set to form part of a forthcoming elections bill and will sit alongside wider reforms including easing voter identification requirements, extending the vote to 16- and 17-year-olds across the UK and piloting automatic voter registration.

The move marks a significant shift in the governance of elections, reversing one of the most disputed elements of the 2022 Act. Opponents of the ministerial statement argued it created a route for the government of the day to shape the priorities of the body responsible for regulating political finance and overseeing electoral law, with the risk that the power could be used to tilt the system in favour of incumbents.

The strategy and policy statement formally came into force on 29 February 2024. The Electoral Commission had previously warned that the arrangement was “not consistent with the role that an independent Commission plays in a healthy democracy”, raising concerns that even if ministers could not give instructions on individual investigations, the ability to set strategic direction could exert political pressure.

Labour’s plans come amid heightened tension over electoral integrity and the conduct of campaigns following recent high-profile disputes after the Gorton and Denton by-election, where allegations of misconduct were raised but were not upheld by the commission. The government has framed its package as a safeguard against politicisation at a time when trust in institutions has been under strain and accusations of bias in the electoral system have become a recurring feature of political debate.

In addition to repealing the ministerial statement, Labour said it intends to adjust the voter ID regime introduced for UK-wide elections, which has been criticised by some civil liberties groups and opposition parties as too restrictive. Ministers have not indicated that they will abolish voter ID outright, but have signalled an intention to broaden the range of accepted documents to reduce the risk of eligible voters being turned away.

The government is also pressing ahead with plans to lower the voting age to 16 for UK elections, a change Labour has previously described as the biggest extension of the franchise since the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 in 1969. Under the policy, 16- and 17-year-olds would be able to cast a ballot in general elections as well as other nationwide polls, with related changes expected to registration rules to enable pre-registration for younger voters.

Alongside those reforms, Labour said it will test automatic voter registration, under which eligible citizens would be added to the electoral register using existing government data, such as records held for taxation or identity documents, rather than relying solely on individuals to submit an application. The current system is estimated to leave millions of people missing from the register or registered incorrectly, which can prevent eligible voters from participating and can also create administrative challenges for councils during elections.

Under Labour’s plan, pilots would be used to assess the practicalities and safeguards of automatic registration before any wider rollout, amid concerns from some experts about data accuracy, privacy protections and the need to ensure individuals can check or opt out where appropriate.

The powers Labour is seeking to repeal were enacted under Boris Johnson’s Conservative government, which argued at the time that a strategy statement would improve accountability and ensure the commission focused on key priorities. Critics, including campaign groups and a number of parliamentarians, said the measure blurred the line between executive government and an independent regulator, particularly because the commission investigates and can fine political parties and campaigners.

Polling published in late 2025 suggested strong public support for keeping the Electoral Commission free from political influence, with around 70% of respondents saying it should operate independently of ministers. Campaign organisations including Unlock Democracy and Spotlight on Corruption have previously urged the government to restore what they described as full independence to the watchdog, warning that the power could be used by a future administration to weaken scrutiny of political finance or reshape enforcement priorities.

The debate over the commission’s role has also been sharpened by increasingly polarised arguments about election legitimacy. Reform UK figures have, in the past, called for the commission to be abolished, while Nigel Farage has raised claims of misconduct after electoral defeats. The Electoral Commission has repeatedly said the UK’s system is robust, while also warning that public confidence can be undermined by unsubstantiated allegations.

Reed’s statement to the Commons signals that Labour intends to treat the independence of electoral oversight as a constitutional issue as well as a policy commitment, positioning the repeal as a preventive measure designed to ensure that rules governing elections and political funding are enforced without fear or favour.

Ministers are expected to set out a timetable for the elections bill, including the sequencing of reforms ahead of upcoming polls and the practical arrangements required for votes at 16 and registration pilots. Any changes will require parliamentary approval, and parts of the package—particularly franchise and registration reforms—will involve significant operational preparation by electoral registration officers and returning officers across the UK.

The Electoral Commission has not yet issued a fresh statement in response to Tuesday’s announcement, but it has previously indicated that it opposed being subject to ministerial direction and welcomed moves that protect the regulator’s independence.