April 9, 2019 4.32 pm This story is over 59 months old

Lincoln on EU elections standby as Brexit goes on

Everything is already booked and in place

The City of Lincoln Council has started “contingency” planning for European Union elections on May 23.

As Prime Minister Theresa May and the UK Parliament continues to butt heads over how it should move in the process to leave the EU, government officials have advised local authorities to get ready for the EU elections on May 23.

Mrs May is due to ask the EU for a further extension to Article 50 – the process by which the UK leaves the EU – but union leaders have said if the UK is still a member on the May date, it will have to take part.

Graham Watts, Democratic Services Manager, said: “City of Lincoln Council has commenced its contingency arrangements should European Parliamentary Elections be called. All polling stations have been contacted and provisionally booked, as has a count venue.

“Our printers have confirmed that they will be able to deliver everything we need should European Parliamentary Elections be called.

“All polling and count staff working on the City of Lincoln Council elections on May 2 have been contacted to seek their availability on May 23 should they be required – the core elections team will be available to manage and administer the election as normal.”

Lincoln joins North Kesteven District Council, South Holland District Council, South Kesteven District Council, Boston Borough Council, East Lindsey District Council, West Lindsey District and North East Lincolnshire in confirming they are following the national guidance.

As it stands notice of the election is set to be published on April 15 with final nominations to be published on April 25.

Lincoln has 3,390 EU citizens living here who are registered to vote in the UK, compared with Boston Borough Council who have 7,275 and East Lindsey who have 991.

North East Lincolnshire has 2,454 EU Citizens registered to vote in the UK.