The EU withdrawal bill must receive royal assent before an order can be made to cancel next year’s European parliament election ALAMYWhat do they know that is worth more than £800,000? Fears are rising of a plot to derail Brexit after it emerged that public money had been set aside for the next election to the European parliament. The Electoral Commission, the election watchdog, is preparing to go ahead with the vote, even though it takes place eight weeks after the UK is due to leave the EU. The Speaker’s committee on the commission, chaired by John Bercow — whose car sports a “remain” bumper sticker — has agreed to ring-fence £829,000, rousing suspicion among Brexit supporters who fear that the UK will never leave the EU. The election watchdog says funding was approved in the “unlikely” event the poll happens.

Source: The Times May 26, 2018 23:03 UTC