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Fraudulent referendum

(244 Posts)
varian Fri 01-Feb-19 15:22:22

Last December, it was reported that- the “corrupt and illegal practices” of the Vote Leave campaign in the 2016 referendum undermine the validity of the decision to leave the EU, the high court has been told.

Relying on findings made by the Electoral Commission about overspending by the pro-Brexit campaign, British people living in Europe have launched a legal case arguing the referendum result should in effect be set aside.

“Breaches of spending rules are serious offences that vitiate the referendum result,” Jessica Simor QC, for the claimants, told the court. “Corruption and illegality in the course of an election or referendum must have a consequence. Corruption and illegal practices undermine the rule of law and democracy.”

There was significant overspending, data breaches and possibly Russian involvement in the referendum, she said. “The electorate can no longer be expected to respect the result.”

www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/dec/07/corrupt-vote-leave-campaign-undermines-brexit-vote-court-told

Today we learn that the information commissioner has launched an audit into Leave.EU and the insurance company owned by the campaign’s key financial backer, Arron Banks, after fining the organisations a total of £120,000 for data protection violations during the EU referendum campaign

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/feb/01/leave-eu-arron-banks-insurance-company-fined-data-breaches-information-commissioner-audit

Why has this taken so long to investigate ? That fraudulent referendum should be declared invalid and Article 50 should immediately be revoked.

Grankind Sun 07-Apr-19 19:20:53

I feel for you- but mostly I feel for the future of this country. I have a family and I worry about what lies ahead for them. I also worry about all the finer details of our arrangements with Europe. However, having been in Barcelona when the local people flooded Las Ramblas with a huge demonstration objecting to poor social conditions, and having watched the 'gilets jaune' wrecking cars and doing untold damage to artefacts that have stood for centuries on the Champs Elysee, I can see that we are in a period of complete social turmoil. People are angry and society is fractured. Now is the time to look at our own country and try to put right what has gone wrong. We can't do that if we are spending vast sums on feeding the lifestyles of unknown oligarchs. It is bad enough when considering the salaries of our own MP's. I too feel strongly. The Right wing is on the rise again in Europe because of the frustration of forgotten sections of society. We must do more to help those who are struggling here in our own country.
Look to the history books and see what happened the last
time. There is always a pattern. Jeremy Corbyn is not the answer. And by making room for people like him we are courting disaster. If you disagree with me that is fine, because in a democracy we are allowed to think and say what we feel. But don't shout down other people's comments, like Rosie Leah. She is entitled to speak. Her comments are as valid as yours. Thankyou Petra for your encouragement. I have been here for a long time, but social media is not usually on my 'to-do' list as it has a tendency to be dominated by the same few voices.

varian Sun 07-Apr-19 18:48:14

You are so right Jura. We have to be optimistic and just hope this nihilistic brexit madness can be stopped in time.

jura2 Sun 07-Apr-19 17:51:26

Yes I can see that. And yet- facts have now changed a lot since then- and I would have hoped people would at least be prepared to seen the clear issues that are arising, the real risks now highlighted for industry, business, farming, etc- and at least accept that huge lies were told, and extremely deceptive and manipulative fraud took place.

I shall never give up, because it is just too important for the future of the country.

Chewbacca Sun 07-Apr-19 17:41:35

Because it makes total sense. But only to those of us who voted to remain jura; do you not see that?

You've been posting, almost non stop, since before the referendum. Further upthread, I asked if anyone, anyone at all, had been swayed by any of the arguments, opinions and points of view that have been stated on here, and elsewhere, in the past 2 or 3 years. And not one single person has said that they have been persuaded to change their mind or now regret voting as they did. Not one. In fact, everyone (on both sides) seems to be more deeply entrenched than they were originally. What is it that you're hoping to achieve? I don't think anyone has been, or will be, converted to your point of view at this stage.

jura2 Sun 07-Apr-19 17:40:44

It is indeed customary to welcome new members- whether one agrees with them or not. It is polite and friendly, I believe.

petra Sun 07-Apr-19 17:29:59

Grankind
Brilliant reply to your 'warm' welcome ???
Where have you been for the past 3 years?

jura2 Sun 07-Apr-19 17:26:38

However, even if the majority had been larger, with a clean Referendum - many individuals, businesses, experts in many fields- would be saying now that we should think again and give people a first INFORMED Referendum, on the current situation, now we can understand the difficulties (and there is NO solution to the Irish border) and the consequences- especially on the poorest and most vulnerable areas and people. Because it makes total sense.

jura2 Sun 07-Apr-19 17:22:46

A clear clean win perhaps- but even if I repeat, and I will because if ti massively important - not a tiny majority won on huge lies and now proven fraud on a scale and of a nature never seen before. Democracy based on that just cannot be called 'democracy'.

As for my welcome, a stranger, happy. Sarcasm- where?

Greta Sun 07-Apr-19 16:47:03

Jabberwok: If Remain had won, as I expected it would, like you I would have accepted defeat with disappointment but with grace. Why oh why couldn't Remain do the same?!

You would have accepted defeat with grace even if you had known that the Remain campaign had been fraudulent? Really?

We often hear that we are a very tolerant society and of course most of us would agree that tolerance is a laudable attribute. However, there is another side to our tolerance and that is tolerating the intolerable.

Jabberwok Sun 07-Apr-19 16:16:34

Welcome Grankind . As you can see from my post, I am a totally disillusioned leaver. I so agree with your post on every level, and believe that brexit has been lost largely due to the persistent undermining by fifth columnists in our own country and particularly parliament. Certain politicians voting en masse for article 50, conning their constituents into thinking they would deliver brexit at the GE, when in fact they planned to do the exact opposite, is for me just so dishonest as to be unbelievable. Rushing a bill through the H of C before MP's had time to give it proper discussion and scrutiny , and expecting the H of L's to do the same is just appalling. The bill passed by one dubious vote = ok, the referendum passes by the equivalent, and all hell lets loose. Double standards lies and deceit are the flavour of the year(s) and anyone with a grain of integrity can just take a hike! I'm through with elections, any elections,for the sham they are!
If Remain had won, as I expected it would, like you I would have accepted defeat with disappointment but with grace. Why oh why couldn't Remain do the same?!

Grankind Sun 07-Apr-19 15:31:23

Nice of you to welcome me Jura 2. I didn't know I had the ability to make a stranger so happy. However, there is not alot to be gained from sarcasm. It is still the lowest form of wit.
What I also did when I voted was to fervently believe that this is a democracy and that each one is entitled to vote in the way they see fit. I remember thinking that if the vote went the other way I would be bound to accept it, however reluctantly. But your constant carping and that of the politicians who wanted us to stay in hasn't helped us. It has made our situation worse. By the way, there is one 'l' in diligent. To answer the Irish question - on my ballot paper it simply asked if I wanted to stay or leave. I think it may have been the same on yours.

Jabberwok Sun 07-Apr-19 14:42:20

Ignore the s. !!!!!

Jabberwok Sun 07-Apr-19 14:41:50

'they', not 'it's.

Jabberwok Sun 07-Apr-19 14:40:09

I must admit I didn't consider the NI border, obviously politicians didn't either!! I did however consider Gibraltar which did make me stop in my tracks and was one of the reasons I nearly abstained, but the treaty of Utrecht and Mrs Pankhurst persuaded me otberwise. I now wish it hadn't, and after all the shameful shenanigans of our self serving politicians, its very doubtful that I'll ever vote again under any circumstances. Dispirited? You could say!!

jura2 Sun 07-Apr-19 14:12:22

Welcome to GN Grankind. I am so happy to hear you considered your vote very carefully and with dilligent research- as many did on both sides. Did you anticipate at the time, the issue of the Irish border, which seems to have no solution whatsoever. I must say I didn't at the time- and it seems few or none in the Government did either.

Our of interest, did you watch the video re fraud - as this particular thread is re fraud?

varian Sun 07-Apr-19 14:12:15

Mr Putin must be delighted with the leave voters, especially those who say that, in spite of all the evidence, they would vote the same way again.

Brexit is certainly costing us billions. There is no need for leavers to be so enraged. We will all be better off if we just defy Mr Putin and put a stop to this brexit nonsense.

Grankind Sun 07-Apr-19 14:00:22

What alot of pent up rage is boiling beneath some of these comments, alot from the same names which appear regularly on this site.
I voted to leave the EU because it has morphed into an unwieldy, grandiose federation totally unlike the Common Market which I voted to enter when I was young and optimistic. I particularly dislike the way that our own laws are over-ruled by faceless European bureaucrats. I had a vote and I used it after much thought and alot of reading. I am intelligent enough to think for myself, and if I have to vote again I will do exactly the same. The bullying tactics employed by those who wish to remain, only strengthens the resolve of those of us in the majority. I have many friends and family in Europe, and they are fully expecting the EU to break up sooner rather than later. It is costing us billions that could be better spent elsewhere.

varian Sun 07-Apr-19 13:32:19

Thanks for posting the link to that important video Jura. I would strongly recommend it to anyone who is still unsure about the illegal activities of the leave campaigners and is interested in the evidence but we should issue a health warning that it is not suitable for anyone who would rather put their fingers in their ears than face the facts.

jura2 Sun 07-Apr-19 13:28:48

So there is hope yet- Tiger Roll proved it.

And yet, again- not a comment on the fraud highlighted above. Probably not even bothered to look at the evidence - and that is the most worrying thing. Head in the sand, full speed ahead, come what may (hmmm) and after me the deluge. No wonder only a tiny % of young people vote Conservative.

Urmstongran Sun 07-Apr-19 12:49:45

Actually this made me smile - from The Graun today:

“The odds on a no-deal Brexit with leading off-course bookies have drifted of late, from 5-2 to 4-1 – but those are still roughly the same odds as Grand National winner Tiger Roll.“

jura2 Sun 07-Apr-19 11:45:02

More and more is being uncovered about the many frauds committed by the Leave campaign, Banks, Farage and others in cohoots. It really does undermine Democracy in a most fundamental and massive way. It is hugely important that we listen and understand how this was done- as it is likely to apply to most countries, elections and Referendums.

When campaigns use fraudulently gained money, with foreign backing- and secretly target individuals from other groups, be they football fans or animal welfare- then it is very serious- Because it is totally hidden from view.

Banks Insurance Company was shown on a French documentary having all its staff working full time on phone targetting of totally non political groups- none of that cost was accounted. The Office manager was also a Leave campaign manager.

What it rather tragic now- is that Leave Voters choose to be in total denial of the fraud, and won't even look or listen to the evidence.

This documentary is very clear on the fraud:

www.facebook.com/TheOriginalSteveLee/videos/10156549274568208/

Dinahmo Sun 07-Apr-19 00:33:04

I've been reading the Brexit threads for the past 2 to 3 weeks and have found nothing to convert me to Leaving the EU. But then there are no solid facts, only opinions, feelings and wishful thinking. I'm continually amazed at the rebuttals given to some of the Remainers who have provided facts and often their sources.

GabriellaG54 Sat 06-Apr-19 21:23:22

Chewbacca
Yes.
I have altered or ameliorated my view(s) on dyslexia, anxiety and depression amongst the many health issues discussed on here and grandparents.
I didn't realise that the former were so widespread across the age spectrum and the latter had so many family problems with relationships, finance and health 'issues'.
It's concerning to say the least.
Of course one reads and hears about it but the concentration on GN seems to be quite high.

GabriellaG54 Sat 06-Apr-19 21:13:47

By the way Alexa
Would you mind using my site name, not shortening it to Gabby?
Gabriella happens to be my real name and I prefer people to use it.
It might take an extra couple of taps on the keyboard but not more than a second or two timewise.

Thank you. smile

GabriellaG54 Sat 06-Apr-19 21:08:51

I understand that for many, exiting the EU is not good, just as I and others think it's for the best, especially in the long term.
If we remain in the EU and some things change because of their poor view of us, so be it.
I'm well able to go with the flow and make the best of a bad job.
My stance won't have altered and I'm sure that sense will reign in the remain camp if the outcome doesn't reflect their wishes.
We'll get through it as there is nothing else we can sensibly do.

Frankly, I don't give a hoot. I made my mark and that was the end of my involvement.
Worry and anger get you nowhere. I don't 'do' either so that my health isn't compromised.
Have a good weekend. smile