Election watchdogs have apologised after a political party was allowed to use the description ‘Remember Lee Rigby’ on its ballot papers.

The Electoral Commission has issued a public apology for the ‘mistake’ and said it had spoken to the family of the murdered soldier from Middleton to say sorry.

Lee’s mum Lyn Rigby however blasted the commission and said she was ‘heartbroken’ that her son’s name was allowed to be used by the party for promotion.

The watchdogs said in a statement that it had ‘only just realised the mistake’.

The ‘Britain First’ political party, which is fielding candidates in the European Elections, was allowed to use the slogan ‘Remember Lee Rigby’ on its voting slips for next month’s polls.

The commission confirmed the blurb will be included on ballot papers only in the elections in Wales.

The polling day – May 22 – falls on the first anniversary of Lee’s murder by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale.

Father-of-one Lee, 25, from Langley, Middleton, was brutally murdered in broad daylight on a street in Woolwich, London, after a car mounted a pavement and ploughed into him just 200 yards from an Army barracks. He served as a soldier and drummer in 2nd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

Jenny Watson, chairman of the Electoral Commission, said nothing could be done to rectify the error or change the voting slips.

She said: “The Electoral Commission is deeply sorry for the offence that has been caused and I have apologised to Lee Rigby’s family. We are particularly sorry at the pain that this will cause them, particularly since polling day falls on the first anniversary of Drummer Rigby’s murder.

“The party description ‘Remember Lee Rigby’ that was registered for use at the European Elections in May by ‘Britain First’ should never have been permitted. We are sorry that the decision we made means that voters in Wales will now see the description on the ballot paper when they vote. We have looked carefully at what can be done to stop this from happening and we greatly regret that we have not found a way for the ballot papers to be changed.

“We will ensure the description is removed from the register for future elections.”

It is understood that the party is not standing for European Elections in England and opted not to use the slogan in Scotland. Writing on Facebook, Lee’s mum Lyn said the political party’s views were not what her son believed in.

The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by Parliament.

It regulates party and election finances and sets governance standards for elections.

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