PRESSURE is mounting on the Tories to launch a public inquiry into the “shambolic” handling of the European Parliament election with voter disenfranchisement on a “massive scale”.
SNP MPs will this week turn the heat up on the Conservative government after thousands of EU nationals were denied the right to vote in last month’s poll.
On the day, thousands of EU nationals living in the UK turned up at polling stations only to find their name scored out and to be turned away. Some were told to vote in their own country.
As Westminster returns from recess, the SNP plan to press Tory ministers to come to Parliament and answer calls for a full investigation into the failures and mistakes which led to the #DeniedMyVote hashtag trending on Twitter.
Tommy Sheppard will reference a petition which has already secured 100,000 signatures, the number required to force a parliamentary debate and a response from the UK Government.
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Sheppard, the SNP’s Cabinet Office spokesperson, said the Government’s refusal to make UC1 forms – the document required to rectify any issues – available at polling stations, its failure to prepare for the elections until the last minute, its failure to publicise the requirements properly, and a series of administrative errors, had all contributed to eligible voters being turned away.
“The UK Government must launch a public inquiry into its shambolic handling of the European elections, and the failings and mistakes that led to voter disenfranchisement on a massive scale,” he said.
“EU citizens have been treated appallingly by the Tories and their hostile environment policies."
He continued: “This shameful treatment must end now.
“Tory ministers must apologise for their incompetence, and ensure a full investigation so this can never happen again. They must explain why they repeatedly ignored the concerns raised by the SNP before the election and point-blank refused to make the UC1 forms available at polling stations as we asked.”
The SNP raised the issue directly with the Prime Minister in advance of the May 23 election, including when Joanna Cherry, during PMQs the day before, put forward the concerns of some constituents.
Cherry blamed the Government’s late decision to take part in the elections, meaning sufficient time was not given to get the necessary forms to the affected people, and urged Theresa May to act that afternoon. The SNP’s justice spokesperson specifically requested that UC1 forms were made available at polling stations.
The PM’s response was to ignore the warning and blame Parliament for rejecting her Brexit deal.
“EU nationals are our friends, colleagues, neighbours and family members,” continued Sheppard, “they contribute hugely to our public services, our economy, and they are part of the fabric of our society.
“Westminster should be utterly ashamed of how it has treated our fellow citizens.”
The day following the election, Scotland’s Constitutional Relations Secretary Michael Russell wrote to the UK’s Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington. It followed a letter dated April 3 in which Russell expressed “concern about the lack of time being afforded to EU citizens to complete the required UC1 forms”.
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