Scores of spoiled ballot papers delay local election results

Election results were delayed in parts of England overnight after so many people had deliberately spoilt their ballot papers.

Some voters scribbled ‘Brexit means Brexit’, ‘Get May out and us out of the EU’ or ‘traitors’ on their forms and refused to mark crosses against any candidates’ names.

Each of the spoilt papers had to be individually adjudicated and the number to be examined was higher than normal in Ipswich, Suffolk – delaying the result.

Some people scribbled ‘Brexit’ and refused to mark crosses against any candidates’ names

Voters shared pictures of their spoilt ballot papers on Twitter with the hashtag #SpoilYourBallot, which has gathered momentum overnight over the past 24 hours.

Some voters wrote the words ‘Brexit Party’ over their papers in support of Nigel Farage’s new political group, despite it not fielding candidates in the local elections.

An official in Ipswich’s Corn Exchange said: ‘We thought there would be quite a few spoilt papers, but nothing on the level we have seen – it took everyone by surprise. There seems to be a lot of anger and frustration out there.’ 

In Basildon alone there were 800 spoilt ballot papers, reported BBC Essex. Brexit Party MEP candidate Michael Heaver said the figure showed ‘huge anger out there’. 

Some ballot papers written on by angry voters said ‘none of these’ and ‘deliver Brexit’

Spoiling a ballot paper is not illegal, and many people took the chance to do so in the elections

It was 200 in Immingham, Lincolnshire, with councillor David Watson saying: ‘That is a phenomenal amount. The residents have disengaged with the political process.’

Spoiling a ballot paper is not illegal, although there are legal restrictions on photographing in polling stations under the Representation of the People Act.  

It follows a campaign by Leave.EU urging people to spoil their ballot papers. 

The group tweeted on March 26: ‘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 Brexit Party and show CCHQ what happens when you defy the will of the British people!’

A voter in the Gateshead Council elections wrote in the candidate boxes: ‘Brexit betrayal!’

Some voters wrote the words ‘Brexit Party’ in support of Nigel Farage’s new political group

The result itself in Ipswich was not so much of a surprise, with Labour increasing its  majority by three and retaining its grip on the town’s borough council.

The Tories lost three seats, with Labour gaining two and the Liberal Democrats one. Labour now holds 36 of 48 seats with the Tories on nine and the Lib Dems on three.  

Overnight, voters vented their anger at the two main parties over the Brexit deadlock as both the Tories and Labour suffered losses in the English council elections.

The Conservatives shed 409 seats and 16 councils in early results, with voters apparently frustrated at the Government’s failure to deliver Brexit on March 29.

The election count at Ipswich’s Corn Exchange in Suffolk was delayed due to the spoilt ballots

It follows a campaign by Leave.EU since March that urged people to spoil their ballot papers

There were calls from Tory MPs for Theresa May’s removal as leader, with Sir Bernard Jenkin warning the party would be ‘toast’ unless it ‘mends its ways pretty quickly’.

But Labour also struggled, losing seats at a point in the electoral cycle when they could expect to be making significant gains at the expense of the Government.

In contrast, the Liberal Democrats were enjoying a good night, with some predictions that they could pick up as many as 500 seats.

With results in from 109 of the 248 councils where elections are being held, the Conservatives had lost 409 seats and Labour 60, while the Lib Dems had gained 283.