Change UK: Independent Group will have to enter European elections without a logo after it was rejected by electoral watchdog

The Independent Group, made up from a collection of former Labour and Conservative MPs, have successfully registered as a political group called Change UK for the upcoming European elections – but their logo was rejected.

The group will launch its election campaign next week, but it got off to a shaky start when its proposed logo was rejected by the Electoral Commission.

The logo the party had submitted had the letters TIG in white text on a black background, with #Change written underneath.

The watchdog claimed the design was “likely to mislead voters” and “contains a link to online material.”

An Electoral Commission Spokesperson said:

The emblem contained a hashtag, and we cannot assess the material linked to a hashtag, which will change over time, against the legal tests. The emblem also contained the acronym TIG, which we were not satisfied was sufficiently well known.

The party can submit another design, but it won’t be in time for the European elections and next month’s ballot paper.

As a result, “there will be a blank space” next to Change UK candidates’ names, the Commission said.

Heidi Allen, Change UK's interim leader, asked members of the public to donate money to the party's campaign.

She said: “This is a fight for Britain’s voice in Europe – and we have been overwhelmed by the thousands of people wanting to roll up their sleeves and join our campaign from every walk of life and every corner of the country.

Change UK – The Independent Group have a clear message in the European elections: we demand a People’s Vote and, if it is held, all our MPs will campaign to remain in and reform the European Union.

People had a bit of a giggle at their expense

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