Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson turned away from polling station after forgetting ID

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson forgot his ID (Image: Getty)

Boris Johnson was turned away from a polling station after forgetting photo ID.

The former Prime Minister was attempting to cast his ballot in South Oxfordshire, where a police and crime commissioner for the Thames Valley is being selected.

But polling station staff were forced to turn Mr Johnson away as he did not have the required identification.

A spokesman for Mr Johnson did not deny he had failed to bring ID, but did say he'd managed to vote today.

Voters are required to bring ID to cast their ballot (Image: Getty)

Thursday's election is the first time many voters in England and Wales have 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.

But the Government has also confirmed it intends to make veterans' ID cards a valid form of voter identification after former service personnel were turned away from polling stations.

Veterans minister Johnny Mercer apologised to those who had been unable to use their veterans' ID card to vote in the local elections on Thursday, vowing to "do all I can" to have it added to the list of valid identification.

Mr Mercer's apology came after Army veteran Adam Diver complained he had been turned away from his local polling station after presenting his Veteran Card.

Army veteran Mr Diver, 48, had been looking to place his vote in Fleetwood, Lancashire, but was turned away after presenting his card, saying the experience left him feeling "gutted".

"I felt clearly deflated, I felt gutted to be fair and upset - I felt angry at the point," Mr Diver, who served in the Army for 27 years, told the PA news agency.

"I felt like my time served was invalidated and I just thought to myself, 'what was the point in that?'

"I've served in pretty much every war going, I've spent 27 years away from my family.

"I thought you could use it as an ID card. It's like a driving licence, you can't get any more official and it didn't strike me one bit that it wouldn't be validated."

In his response, Mr Mercer said: "I am sorry about this.

"The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year. I will do all I can to change it before the next one."