Title

EUROPEAN UNION

Bias claims force council to change voting guide

Bristol City Council has been forced to amend a European Union referendum voting guide after claims it was biased towards the Remain campaign.

Bristol City Council has been forced to amend a European Union referendum voting guide after claims it was biased towards the Remain campaign.

Complaints had been raised over the fact one of the pictorial instructions on how to vote showed a pencil hovering over the Remain box. 

The council insisted it was not trying to influence the vote but would amend future literature given the ‘current sensitivities'.

A council spokesman said: ‘This form is designed to explain the logistics of voting by post and not to suggest how someone should vote.

‘The placement of the pen graphic was entirely incidental and we do not believe that anybody could reasonably be influenced by such a graphic.

‘However, given current sensitivities, for all future postal vote dispatches the form and graphic will be amended.'

EUROPEAN UNION

Lack of Government assurance over governance change funding

By Dan Peters | 09 September 2025

The Government has refused to reassure councils forced to scrap their committee systems it will provide funding to help them change their governance models.

EUROPEAN UNION

New politics, new tensions

By Rob Whiteman | 02 September 2025

As Reform UK gathers this week for its annual conference, Rob Whiteman argues that with the party gaining control of some councils, local government must sup...

EUROPEAN UNION

Platforms for change

By Max Wide | 14 August 2025

Now should be the time to reflect, learn and proceed with insight and refreshed practices if the new strategic authorities and the ingenuity of their leaders...

EUROPEAN UNION

EXCLUSIVE: LGA sideline fears as mayoral base grows

By Dan Peters | 02 July 2025

Senior Local Government Association (LGA) figures have urged the organisation to do more to court the growing army of mayors amid fears it could be sidelined.

Popular articles by Laura Sharman