An irate man from Margate emailed me today to complain about the letter he had received from “mentally challenged” Thanet district council officials.
It confirmed his application for a postal vote for the EU referendum but carried a logo that was, to say the least, confusing. “Your vote matters,” it said. “Make sure you’re in.”
Disgusted of Margate called it “corrupt, or at best, incompetent.” He suggested that it was Thanet council’s way of encouraging people to vote Remain.
In fact, as the council’s press office explained, it was altogether more innocent. The logo, borrowed from the Electoral Commission, meant: make sure you’re in the election register and not make sure you stay in the European Union.
To avoid any possible misunderstanding, the press officer said they had taken a decision to remove the logo from any future letters. “Thank you,” she added sweetly, “for bringing it to our attention.”
I hope that swift action by Thanet calms down the emailer, who thought all postal votes in Thanet should be declared void, and any others who have also received it.
