RUTH Davidson has blasted Boris Johnson's controversial plan to bring in photo-IDs for future general elections.

The plan, which has been branded “Trump-like” by the SNP is being touted as a means of tackling fraud.

But critics claim it could deter poorer and ethnic minority voters from taking part in democracy.

Davidson said the proposal is "a solution to a problem that doesn't exist".

The former Scottish Tory leader told ITV's Peston: "Well I think they [Johnson's government] can't cite any evidence of it because I don't think there's ever any evidence to cite.

"I think in terms of this particular part of the Queen's Speech, I think it's total b*****ks, and I think it's trying to give a solution to a problem that doesn't exist, and that makes it politics as performance.

"And I think that given where we are and the year we've had, we've got real problems to solve in this country, and the idea that this is some sort of legislative priority I think is for the birds."

Shadow Commons leader Thangam Debbonaire described the plan as an “attack on democracy” in Parliament this afternoon and added that just “0.000002%” of votes cast in 2019 were found to be fraudulent.

She asked in the Commons: “Will the Leader of the House please explain to his own constituents why they can’t vote by giving their name to a clerk and being counted by a teller when this is how their own MP votes in this place – in normal times at least?”

Rees-Mogg replied: “It is important that elections are fair and proper.

“[Debbonaire] mentioned we don’t have to prove who we are when voting in the division lobbies in normal circumstances, but she’s forgetting that we’re not allowed to wear overcoats in the division lobbies just in case we send somebody through to vote in our place or indeed – as Mr Speaker helpfully says – hats.

“So therefore there are requirements in this place to prevent impersonation.”

READ MORE: Photo ID is yet another hit taken by democracy

Labour former minister Chris Bryant said MPs are allowed to vote while wearing masks during the pandemic, but Rees-Mogg said they do need to show their identity cards under the current arrangement.

Rees-Mogg added: “Having photographic identification is ensuring a problem doesn’t arise.

“This country has an electoral system of which people can be proud and of which people can have confidence. We mustn’t allow that confidence to slip.”

Johnson’s government first committed to introduce ID checks at polling stations in October 2019 – for both parliamentary elections in Great Britain and local elections in England –  but the plans failed to materialise during the last parliament.

The UK Government has previously said people would be able to apply for a voting ID card from their local council, although this would have to be done before polling day. Early trials in some areas led to hundreds of voters being turned away.

READ MORE: Tory voter ID plans branded 'Trump-like voter suppression' by SNP

The senior MP David Davis told The Independent the “unnecessary” and “pointless” proposals should be abandoned by the government.

“It’s yet another unnecessary ID card approach from the government,” the former cabinet minister said. “There’s no evidence that I’m aware of that there is a problem with voter fraud at polling stations.”

“It’s actually quite difficult to do,” he added. “Somebody else might turn up, they might have voted already. It’s addressing a problem that is not there and it’s impinging on people’s privacy and convenience.”