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Thursday 24 April 2014

UKIP attacks “appalling cynicism” of bid to confuse voters by rival party using similar name and slogan

The Chairman United Kingdom Independence Party Steve Crowther has today urged UKIP supporters to take extra care to “look on the ballot paper for the UKIP name and our famous £ sign logo” when they vote in next month’s European and local elections.

Mr Crowther spoke out after former UKIP member Mike Natrass registered with the Electoral Commission the party name “An Independence From Europe” and the description “UK Independence Now”. His tiny splinter group will now be listed top of ballot papers for the European elections, potentially tricking voters who wish to register their support for UKIP.

“We are extremely disappointed that Natrass has been able to cause confusion and potentially to deny some voters from exercising their democratic choice. But we are also sure the vast majority of voters will see through this and consign Natrass and his small band of adherents to the oblivion they so richly deserve after this appalling display of cynicism.

“Our message is to look further down the ballot paper, which will list parties in alphabetical order, till you find ‘UK Independence Party (UKIP)’ and our famous pound sign logo. It is unfortunately too late to overturn the decision to permit Natrass to use this description on ballot papers next month so we will just have to roll our sleeves up and redouble our efforts to make sure people remember: look for UKIP and the £ logo. We are used in this party to overcoming obstacles that are put in our way and I am quite sure we can overcome this one as well.”

There was a similar case in the 1994 European Elections. Richard Huggett ran for the for the Devon and East Plymouth seat, winning over 10,000 votes. When nominations closed and it was revealed that Huggett was a candidate with the description "Literal Democrat", the Liberal Democrats launched legal action in the High Court of Justice alleging that the Returning Officer had wrongly accepted a nomination which was designed to confuse voters but the Judge ruled that the nomination had to stand.


The 2014 European Elections ballot paper will be similar to this: 
Image courtesy of  Politicalbetting.com