Anti-Brexit election chiefs ‘must go’
BREXIT campaigners yesterday called for senior figures at the official elections watchdog to quit after it emerged that several had publicly criticised the decision to quit the EU and the Leave campaign.
Researchers claimed four of the Electoral Commission’s 10-strong board, including the chairman, Sir John Holmes, had made pro-Remain statements since the 2016 vote.
The watchdog’s code of conduct requires commissioners to “uphold its impartiality” at all times.
Sir John allegedly told an audience he “regretted” the referendum result and he hit out at “Eurosceptic nonsense” used by Leave campaigners. The other commissioners include chairman and commissioners have publicly given views that undermine the standards and impartiality required in these roles,” she said.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, chairman of the European Research Group of proBrexit Tory MPs, said: “This is very serious as the regulator of elections must be impartial.”
A watchdog spokesman said the commissioners played no role in its “completely impartial” investigations of irregularities. There are several ongoing in relation to EU referendum campaigns and spending.
He said: “Commissioners do not have a role in the Commission’s investigatory procedures and decisions, which are carried out by the executive in accordance with the commission’s published enforcement policy and with complete impartiality.”