EU referendum: Row over 'biased' postal vote form please log in to view this image Image copyright Bristol City Council Image caption The voting guidance, as publicised by the Leave.EU campaign The Electoral Commission has called on Bristol city council to scrap an EU referendum how-to-vote guide over claims it favours the Remain campaign. A UKIP MEP complained about the pictorial instructions on how to vote, which show a pencil hovering over the Remain box. The election watchdog said the graphic "shouldn't have been used". Bristol City Council said it would amend the form and insisted it was not trying to influence the vote. Follow the latest developments on our live page Mike Hookem, a UKIP MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, said a constituent of his had been alerted to the Bristol area postal voting packs. "Any ballot papers which have gone out with marks showing either remain or leave boxes being ticked in the example need to be recalled and the person responsible needs to be investigated" Mr Hookem said. "It may be an isolated incident around Bristol but in the interests of democracy we cannot take that risk." The Leave.EU campaign tweeted images of the postal ballot instructions and called on supporters to tell them if they had received the packs. Analysis by Political Reporter Brian Wheeler Both sides in this referendum campaign are on high alert for any hint of bias, particularly in official documents. So it is, perhaps, no surprise that Bristol City Council's leaflet has caused such a row. The council insists the graphic is entirely innocuous - but UKIP says it is a clear example of establishment bias in favour of the Remain campaign. There is even a suggestion that it could leave the result of the referendum open to legal challenge. The Electoral Commission has told Bristol council not to use it again. But with reports of similar leaflets dropping on doormats around the country it may be too late to do anything about it. A spokeswoman for the Electoral Commission said: "While it is unlikely that postal voters in Bristol might be persuaded to vote a different way because of the graphic in these instructions, clearly it shouldn't have been used. "We are following up with the counting officer for Bristol City to ensure that it is amended before any further postal voting packs are issued to voters in the area." A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: "This form is designed to explain the logistics of voting by post and not to suggest how someone should vote. "The placement of the pen graphic was entirely incidental and we do not believe that anybody could reasonably be influenced by such a graphic. "However, given current sensitivities, for all future postal vote dispatches the form and graphic will be amended." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36411509
The Said UKIP MEP should be told to go and stuff himself. For 20 years or more the public have had to put up with the constant anti EU feed from the papers illustrated by a previous poster.
Does make me laugh when people moan about something like that. As if it's going to come through and someone go.. hmm I was going to vote to leave but the pencil is already hovering over the remain box so I might as well cross that one.
Some conservative members agitating for leaving like to exploit workers, maximum hours(48) work per week not in their favour and other things too,
Just when you think things cant get any more ridiculous or surreal Cameron is campaigning with new Labour mayor Sadiq Khan, while the previous Tory mayor Boris is campaigning with Beefy Botham.
Apparently the majority of young people <40 yrs support remain whilst the majority of >60s support leave. I heard an argument that the views of the young should carry more weight should it come to a 50-50 situation. "We and our children will still be around whilst you've already gone from this life" was a phrased used by one of the Remain youngsters, when they met with one of the Leave seniors. Do they have a point?
No, because older people always worry about the future of their offspring and have their best interest at heart.
This is so mind blowingly patronising like Treble said. The younger generation can think for themselves as much as the older one can. Their views are as valid as each other. Clearly the views should be equivalent as anything else would be a nightmare. But I have sympathy with the youngsters who will suffer the consequences of any decision longer than the elders. AND: experience tells me that older generations are not always "wiser". Some I am afraid hanker after a lifestyle that's disappeared decades ago.
Do not trust us Baby Boomers or Generation X that follows us. A more narcissistic, self-obsessed and vain set of middle-aged children the world has never seen. At least my parents fought a war to validate their prejudices - we're just ignorant. I truly hope the young take advantage of the EU rather than whine about those coming here to do 'our' work. My daughter is a student nurse and will probably end up in NZ or Canada, but she does plan to work in Germany and/or Italy at some stage. Maybe, or maybe not. At least she has ambitions and ideas. I think my generation's idea of working abroad was getting a bar job in Magaluf.
How much do EU regulations cost British businesses? The thinktank Open Europe calculated that the 100 most expensive EU rules cost UK companies and the public sector £33.3bn a year, prompting the claim that "unnecessary EU regulations cost £600m a week". But the study also found that quantifiable benefits from these rules are worth about £58.6bn a year, giving a net gain of £478m a week. Many other less easily quantifiable benefits of EU membership were not factored into the equation. Was this explainer helpful?
my view would be contrary to the young v old thing. I think the old will be more affected than the young as if it does go tits up then the old could see pensions hammered. I am tempted to put my pension in cash before the vote and then think about moving to the more risk/growth options lafter we see. what are peoples thoughts on this.
The older generation with cash in the bank would love to see interest rate hikes and people losing their homes left right and centre, as they'd be getting a nice return on their dosh... Those post retirement will be focussed on the Daily Mail 'Johnny Foreigner' aspect of this debate. Sat drawing their final salary pensions, they won't give a **** about the economic consequences in the main. As for pension pots, it depends on how close you were to drawing it, as to what effect a potential short term slide would have on your total come the day of cashing it in. It might be prudent if you've got a high risk fund at present to transfer it to a low risk option if you fear the worst....however, the markets will boom if the Nation makes the right choice......
I hope people like Boris Johnson are not able to have their way. If remain have it, Boris Johnson's political career is over. It is a big gamble for him.
