Official Vote Leave bus lands parking ticket

The distinctive, red Vote Leave vehicle was parked on one of the main roads through Harrogate town centre while activists handed out flyers.

Sign-carrying supporters of the leave campaign had barely been gone for half an hour when the vehicle received the ticket from a council parking enforcer on West Park, overlooking the Stray by Betty’s.

Harrogate Borough Council leader Richard Cooper said: “The ticket was issued to the Vote Leave campaign bus because it was parked illegally. It is a high profile reminder that everyone, no matter who they are, should park their vehicles legally and responsibly.

“In the interests of balance, I must make it clear that had this been a Remain campaign battle bus then we would also have ticketed it.”

Vote Leave regional director for Yorkshire and the Humber Tom Banks said the ticket was a mistake and was removed shortly afterwards.

He said it was legal for the bus to park in that area because it was representing one of the official campaigns and would not have to be paid.

Representatives from the group were canvassing the town centre as part of a national drive to encourage the country to vote to leave the EU on June 23.

Some members of the campaign had hoped for appearances by high profile supporters of the leave campaign such as former Mayor of London Boris Johnson or former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Iain Duncan Smith, but this leg of the campaign was led solely by activists from the Yorkshire and Humber branch.