Lots of respectable EU hosting companies, and also aparently OVH, if they think there’s a chance you’re taking the piss will ask for a ID so they can ban you. It’s not just anti-spam, it’s anti-abuse and for preventing non-payment. They think there was a risk involved in accepting your business (whatever that may be, obviously companies don’t dilvulge their criteria here), and if you go elsewhere they’re not upset about it for that reason.

Came here to say exactly this.

Second person into my polling station this morning. Looked at the odds at 0630 and voted as tactically as I could. I am now going to be in a constant state of clenching until the results are announced.

I’m in Manchester and your interpretation is 100% correct. Although… I did grow up in Hythe.