Politics

European elections LIVE: Expats furious at postal votes mix-up


Some forms have arrived too late to make tomorrow’s voting deadline and some have failed to turn up at all, according to the BBC. A number of local councils opted to use a postal service called Adare to send out the forms which are understood to have been distributed via the Netherlands. Adare said all ballots were posted “in line with the election and council timetables”.

The company insisted it had used “reputable mail handlers” whose job it was to “assess the best route through other European countries before the mail arrives at the final destination”. 

Polls open in the UK at 7am tomorrow and are open until 10pm. Postal voters must have their papers back in the UK by the time the polls close.

It is believed thousands of Britons living in France could be affected.

Ann Bone, who lives in Maury in the Pyrenees Orientales, told the BBC her postal vote did not arrive until Friday – and when she went to return it to Calderdale Council she was informed by the French postal service that it had “no chance” of arriving in the UK in time.

Her husband’s ballot paper has still failed to arrive in France.

She said: “We’ve been denied a vote, basically.”

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9.03am update: EU plans fast-track investigation into Farage funding

An EU investigation into Nigel Farage’s alleged funding from Leave donor Arron Banks could be fast-tracked, a European Parliament source revealed last night.

European Parliament President Antonio Tajani has “referred” the Brexit Party leader to the institution’s code of conduct watchdog committee, a senior source told Express.co.uk.

Mr Farage could be pulled in front of the five-MEP advisory committee as early as June 4, unless they decide to hold an emergency session to scrutinise the Brexit Party leader’s funding.

Last week, Channel 4 claimed that Mr Farage was handed £450,000 by Mr Banks, the Leave campaign’s largest single donor

Mr Farage told supporters at a rally last night: ”Let me make clear to all the conspiracy theorists.

“Our money comes from this growing mass movement of people.”

8.30am update: Farage demands role in future Brexit negotiations

Nigel Farage said his Brexit Party will demand seats at the Brexit negotiating table if they come top in the European elections.

The former Ukip leader also speculated that wins for the Brexit Party could have an impact on the leadership of the two main Westminster parties.

He said: “We will quickly get rid of the worst prime minister in the history of our nation.

“You never know, given the way we are smashing the Labour vote in Wales and the Midlands, a big Brexit win might get rid of Jeremy Corbyn as well.”

The Brexit Party is currently topping the polls ahead of Thursday’s vote. A seven-day rolling average on Tuesday predicted they will take home 34 percent of the vote.

7.30am update: Parties hold final election rallies

The Brexit Party, Liberal Democrats, Green Party and Change UK have all held closing rallies ahead of tomorrow’s European elections.

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage urged traditional Tory voters angry over Brexit to back his party and pledged a “peaceful political revolution”.

Vince Cable said a strong showing for the Lib Dems would advance the “wider cause of stopping Brexit”.

Former Conservative MP Anna Soubry urged Change UK supporters to “get out there and speak to all of those people who believe our great country has made a terrible mistake” over Brexit.

Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas told a rally in Oxford she was campaigning hard for a referendum on the terms of Brexit and described Theresa May’s revised Brexit offer to MPs to “putting lipstick on a pig”.



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