Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Oliver Milne

Council DELAYS local election result as tide of ballot papers spoilt over Brexit

Furious voter across the county have vented their frustration with Theresa May's handling of Brexit by spoiling their ballot papers.

Remainers and Leavers across the EU  shared their disillusion with Britain's current political situation by writing, drawing  or just defacing their ballot.

And in Ipswich - where the Conservatives lost control of the local council - officials admitted it caused a delay in them declaring the result - although they were all announced by Friday morning.

Angry voters took to social media to share their defaced ballots using the hashtag # SpoilYourBallot.

Some wrote "Brexit" rather than backing a candidate.

Some made political points about how Britain should leave now and fall back on World Trade Organisation rules rather than strike a deal with the EU.

One person felt the need to get anatomical (Twitter)

Local elections: Corbyn 'very sorry' for losses and admits Brexit was a factor  

One person just drew a picture of a willy and wrote "f*** Brexit".

Remainers and Leavers across the EU  shared their disillusion with Britain's current political situation by writing, drawing or just defacing their ballot.

And in Ipswich - where Labour kept control of the local council - officials admitted it caused a delay in them declaring the result, according to reports in the Ipswich Star.

Angry voters took to social media to share their defaced ballots using the hashtag #SpoilYourBallot.

Some wrote "Brexit" rather than backing a candidate.

Some made political points about how Britain should leave now and fall back on World Trade Organisation rules rather than strike a deal with the EU.

Another person just wrote "f*** Brexit" and drew a picture of a willy.

One council delayed results but the ballots were spoiled across the country (Twitter)

It comes as the local election results show a tidal wave of protest votes against Labour and the Conservatives - with each party losing seats it should expect to win as voters backed independents, Greens and Liberal Democrats .

One image showed a vote cast by someone at Kirkburton Parish Council write: “None of these delivers Brexit”.

Another spoiled ballot in East Staffordshire said: “ Theresa May betrayed Brexit”.

People shared images of voting slips with messages including "Get May out", "Brexit betrayal" and "Traitors" written across them.

Another wrote: "I'd rather poo in my hands and clap than vote for this lot."

Jordan (@Jord16-) voted in the Worcester City Council elections and said he spoilt his ballot because of issues surrounding Brexit.

He said: "The major parties have been lying for three years straight about Brexit and, in a two-party system, neither of them deserve to be voted for at any level.

"I'm actually a member of the Conservatives, so under normal circumstances I would have voted for them. If there was a Brexit Party candidate I would have voted for them."

Some people kept their anger quite simple (Twitter)

Brexit row erupts as local election voters cast 'a plague on your both houses'  

The campaign was started by Leave.EU, which tweeted in March, encouraging people to spoil their ballot papers.

They wrote: "The Conservatives depend on our votes. Instead of respecting our decision to leave the EU, they have chosen to stab us in the back.

"Send a message on May 2 by spoiling your ballot, writing in @brexitparty-uk and show CCHQ what happens when you defy the will of the British people."

There were also similar protests from Remain supporters, with messages including "Stop Brexit".

It is not illegal to spoil a ballot paper, but filling it out incorrectly or covering it with graffiti will render it invalid. ike a deal with the EU.

(Twitter)

Leading Tory Brexiteer MP Jacob Rees-Mogg now has a Liberal Democrat councillor  

Another person just wrote "f*** Brexit" and drew a picture of a willy.

It comes as the local election results show a tidal wave of protest votes against Labour and the Conservatives - with each party losing seats it should expect to win as voters backed independents, Greens and Liberal Democrats.

One image showed a vote cast by somone at Kirkburton Parish Council write: “None of these deliver Brexit”.

Another spoiled ballot in East Staffordshire said: “Theresa May betrayed Brexit”.

People shared images of voting slips with messages including "Get May out", "Brexit betrayal" and "Traitors" written across them.

The spoilt ballots were partially organised by campaign group Vote Leave (Twitter)

Local elections: 'Ukip' and swastika graffiti daubed 'on Lib Dem activist's car'  

Another wrote: "I'd rather poo in my hands and clap than vote for this lot."

Jordan (@Jord16-) voted in the Worcester City Council elections and said he spoilt his ballot because of issues surrounding Brexit.

He said: "The major parties have been lying for three years straight about Brexit and, in a two-party system, neither of them deserve to be voted for at any level.

"I'm actually a member of the Conservatives, so under normal circumstances I would have voted for them. If there was a Brexit Party candidate I would have voted for them."

The campaign was started by Leave.EU, which tweeted in March, encouraging people to spoil their ballot papers.

They wrote: "The Conservatives depend on our votes. Instead of respecting our decision to leave the EU, they have chosen to stab us in the back.

"Send a message on May 2 by spoiling your ballot, writing in @brexitparty-uk and show CCHQ what happens when you defy the will of the British people."

There were also similar protests from Remain supporters, with messages including "Stop Brexit".

It is not illegal to spoil a ballot paper, but filling it out incorrectly or covering it with graffiti will render it invalid.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.