CIVIC chiefs have investigated claims by a television presenter that a flyer promoting the Brexit Party was included in his postal ballot letter.
Historian Dan Snow, who lives in the New Forest, made the claim via his Twitter page.
Mr Snow posted a picture to his 250,000 followers, showing his postal ballot next to a picture of a Brexit Party leaflet.
In the tweet he said: “I have just opened my postal ballot and this just fell out. How is this a thing?”
I have just opened my postal ballot and this just fell out. How is that a thing? pic.twitter.com/amDZ4V7ZIV
— Dan Snow (@thehistoryguy) May 19, 2019
But the claims were rejected by New Forest District Council, the authority responsible for sending out postal ballots to residents across the New Forest.
The authority initially described the claims as “unfounded” and promised to investigate. In a later statement, a New Forest District Council spokesperson said: “The postal voting packs were put together at the council and not by external contractors.
“The packs are double-checked. This process means that it is very unlikely that a political leaflet would have been included in a postal voting pack. Rather, it is likely that the leaflet was delivered on or around the same day as the postal voting pack, which is how this misunderstanding may have arisen.”
Update!
— Dan Snow (@thehistoryguy) May 20, 2019
The @newforestdc have issued this statement. I'm very grateful they have looked into it and short of other people coming forward I'm very happy to assume it was a prank or incompetence on my part.
Please share. pic.twitter.com/Jt293QfFyj
Mr Snow has been a vocal supporter of the People’s Vote – a campaign group calling for a public vote on the final Brexit deal between the United Kingdom and the European Union. Last year, he funded one of the buses taking protesters from the south to London on October 20 for a People’s Vote march.
Hampshire falls in the south east European constituency and people living there will choose 10 representatives in the elections on Thursday. Eighty-five people, including three independents, have put themselves forward for the roles. Dorset only has six MEPs with 41 candidates standing for the positions. Voting will take place on Thursday with polling stations open from 7am until 10pm. Other countries will cast their ballots across the following days before all results are announced from 10pm on Sunday, May 26.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel