Blow for Change UK as it tried to complete formalities ahead of the possible May Euro elections
As if the people aren’t confused enough as it is
It has just been reported that the new party, change UK, has had its party logo rejected by the Electoral Commission on the grounds that it could “mislead voters”.
Apparently the emblem was a black square with the initials TIG and the hashtag “#change”. Apparently the Commission took the view that the new party’s chosen emblem was not sufficiently well known.
But Change UK should be registered in time to take part in the coming Euro elections, if those are indeed to be held in the UK, on May 23rd.
In the convoluted voting system devised by Labour for the 1999 Euro elections voters do not choose candidates by name but rather put their cross against one of a range of parties. On the Ballot form each party logo figures above the list of candidates who have been chosen to represent them.
Without a logo the list of names of Change UK hopefuls will appear but will look slightly odd and that might just have an impact on their ability to attract votes in the election.
Ever since the rebel Labour and Conservative MPs left their parties in February the new grouping has had issues with branding. It initially called itself the Independent group, and it is only been in recent weeks that the new term Change UK has been introduced. You can see the problem because they were known initially as TIG.
So when voters turnout on May 23rd they’re going to be faced with some unfamiliar changes in Britain’s party structure. For as well as Change UK UKIP which won most MEPs in 2014 has now, of course split, and will remain on the ballot but will have to compete for that area of the vote with Nigel Farage’s the Brexit party.