Thank you to everyone who wrote to me to share concerns about attempts by the Conservatives to subvert our democracy.

Unlike Rishi Sunak, I believe that voting is a right, not a “privilege”, and one that must be vociferously defended. That’s why it’s so troubling that the Conservatives passed the anti-democratic Elections Bill, which not only introduced voter ID requirements – without a shred of evidence of a widespread problem – but also made other worrying changes including undermining the independence of the Electoral Commission. And that’s not to mention the Tories’ recent change to electoral law, snuck through without a vote in parliament, that almost double the amount parties can spend on a general election campaign to £35m.

Labour set up the Electoral Commission in 2000 to act as the guardian of our democracy and to guarantee fairness for voters. We will always believe that elections should be won on the strength of arguments, not by whoever is best at bending the rules. I absolutely share your anger that the government have ignored the widespread criticism of their draft strategy for the Electoral Commission and have railroaded it through parliament regardless – a move I strongly opposed and voted against.

The Tories may be content to try and fiddle with the rules of our democracy because they have achieved next to nothing after fourteen years in government, but I will always believe that it is up to the public – and only the public – to decide the direction of our country. That’s why at the general election later this year Labour will be asking voters a simple question – do they want more chaos, dysfunction, and failure from the Conservatives, or change and a fresh start for Britain under Labour?

But until the public get a chance to have their say, please know that I will continue to fight Tory attacks on our democracy and the right to vote.