Petition · past parliament
PREVENT EU FUNDING of the Remain Campaign for the British EU REFERENDUM
Rejected
11 signatures
What the petition asks
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.
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.
Why it was rejected
It was not clear what the petition asked the UK Government or Parliament to do.
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
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
Timeline
| 16 Jan 2016 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 3 Feb 2016 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
11
Status
Rejected
Rejected
3 Feb 2016
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.