The question now being asked – is UK election going to be observed by OSCE

27th November 2019 / United Kingdom

Defending Democracy is a transatlantic organisation that amongst other things focuses on internal threats to freedoms and rights by focusing on democracy, the rule of law and human rights and in addition looks at further threats to democratic principles including, disinformation, cyber-attacks and political warfare.

Their website is quite clear on the threats the West faces. “The war on the West – both from the outside and from the inside – is a war on truth. Everything we hold dear is at risk: our trust in public institutions and fair elections; our trust in the rule of law; our trust in knowledge and science; our trust in journalism and media; and perhaps most of all, our trust in a shared sense of reality and values. Our democracy is at stake, and we must defend it.”

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is another transatlantic organisation. It provides support, assistance and expertise to participating States (of which the UK is a member), and civil society to promote democracy, rule of law, human rights and tolerance and non-discrimination. ODIHR observes elections, reviews legislation and advises governments on how to develop and sustain democratic institutions.

So why has Defending Democracy seen fit to ask the OSCE why it is that the current government of the United Kingdom has not asked for its official observer to confirm a free and fair election? Peter Dukes – Editor of ByLine Times asks:

Leaving aside that questions remain unanswered about permissible donors, campaign expenditure, spending limits, sanctioning powers and undue influence – the significance of the connotation in this request is simple. Is the 2019 election in Britain free and fair, indeed, the question really being asked, is our government trustworthy enough – will the 2019 election be rigged?

SafeSubcribe/Instant Unsubscribe - One Email, Every Sunday Morning - So You Miss Nothing - That's It

The Tory election campaign this time around is the most egregious in British history. Immersed in almost daily scandals, supported by cheating, disinformation and propaganda – it has been branded ‘dystopian‘ by EU leaders and foreign observers and ‘authoritarian‘ by political commentators – all for pumping out mass fake news and plain old lies.

Is it much of a surprise to know that right now, Britain has a Prime Minister up to his neck in lawbreaking, corruption and now accusations of electoral rigging. There are currently four cases being investigated; more Vote Leave lawbreaking and coverup, the Arcuri payments and Mayor of London (of which leaks suggest evidence is compelling), the Darroch cables leak and now Representation of People Act electoral interference. The latter refers to the Met Police receiving allegations of electoral fraud and malpractice with regards to Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party incentivising (by offering guaranteed safe Tory seats or peerages) BrexitParty candidates to stand down.