Submitted on Saturday 16th January 2016
Rejected on Wednesday 3rd February 2016
Current status: Rejected
Rejection code: no-action (see below for details)
PREVENT EU FUNDING of the Remain Campaign for the British EU REFERENDUM
It is reported the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, may sanction a massive Brussels-funded advertising blitz designed to keep Britain in the EU. Clearly intended to be discriminatory, this MUST NOT be permitted unless EQUAL funding is also provided to the 'LEAVE CAMPAIGN'.
Ensure Fair and Equal Funding of both 'Leave' and 'Remain' campaigns for the Referendum on Britain's Continued Membership of the European Union.
The forthcoming Referendum concerning the EU is the most significant political decision of a generation.
It is absolutely imperative it is fought fairly, under equal terms and with equal funding - such that balanced and accurate information is provided to the Electorate upon which they can base their voting decision.
You can't sign this petition because it was rejected. But you can still comment on it here at Repetition.me!
The Government e-Petitions Team gave the following reason:
The law on sources for campaign funding in the EU referendum already prevents the European Commission from funding either side of the campaign. It is not therefore clear what action your petition would like the Government or Parliament to take.
There is more information about this in this briefing prepared by the Electoral Commission, which is responsible for supervising and implementing the regulatory framework for the electoral system:
http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/190398/EU-Referendum-Bill-HoC-Committee-Stage-Day1-Briefing-2015-06-15.pdf
You'll see from this briefing that the existing law "already provides that referendum campaigners are only able to accept donations over £500 from certain ‘permissible’ sources. In general, the permissibility rules provide that funding can only be accepted by referendum campaigners from certain UK-based sources." The Electoral Commission also says that "that the European Commission does not fall within the list of bodies that can register as a campaigner or donate to other referendum campaigners."
This answer to a parliamentary questions gives more detail about what EU institutions can and cannot do during the campaign:
http://www.parliament.uk/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/commons/2016-01-18/22958
13.59.34.87 Fri, 03 May 2024 03:35:00 +0100
