The London Assembly today agreed a motion calling on the Electoral Commission and London Elects[4] to take over the running of Barnet’s election administration. The Assembly called for this to happen before the European Union Referendum and also asked for an urgent review of the state and accuracy of Barnet’s electoral register.
It was proposed that a London local authority, such as Camden, should take over the management of the Referendum in the London Borough of Barnet.
Andrew Dismore AM, who proposed the motion said:
“The EU referendum is a crucial moment in the UK’s future. The chaos caused by Barnet Council’s inability to properly administer the London elections throws serious doubt on their ability to oversee the referendum.
Until we can be sure Barnet have fully understood and rectified the problems that led to last week’s meltdown, the Electoral Commission should step in to ensure the smooth running of the EU referendum in June.”
The full text of the Motion is:
Following the electoral fiasco during the Mayoral and London Assembly elections, this Assembly has significant doubts about the ability of London Borough of Barnet to manage and administer elections.
In Barnet, the supplementary register, rather than the full register, was supplied to polling stations. By the time the error was spotted and remedial action taken, a significant number of voters were disenfranchised, though many were able to return to vote later. Many postal votes did not arrive on time, or were not received at all. Many poll cards were not received in time or at all. The election hotline was unavailable for most of the day.
The consequences of these problems, though, pale into insignificance when compared to the state of the electoral register in Barnet, which is worryingly deficient.
As a consequence of the significant issues raised, this Assembly has no confidence that Barnet could run a whelk stall let alone sort out the register and rectify these errors and inefficiencies by the time of the EU Referendum; especially as the details of their own inquiry have not even been announced yet.
The Assembly therefore calls on London Elects and the Electoral Commission to intervene actively to take over the running of Barnet’s election administration for the Referendum and to conduct an urgent review of the state and accuracy of Barnet’s electoral register; and also proposes that a London local authority with a record of excellent electoral administration, such as Camden, should take over the management of the European Union Referendum in the London Borough of Barnet.
Notes to editors
- Watch the full webcast.
- The motion was agreed by 15 votes for, 10 against.
- Andrew Dismore AM who proposed the motion is available for interviews. Please see contact details below.
- London Elects is the independent body responsible – under the direction of the Greater London Returning Officer (GLRO) – for overseeing and encouraging participation in the Mayor of London and London Assembly elections.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Alison Bell on 020 7983 4228. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.