A HAMPSHIRE based party has been banned in the run up to the election - over the word crumpet.

The Beer, Baccy and Crumpet Party, which was founded by Hedge End pensioner Ray Hall, has been removed from the register of political parties by election officials, who considered the name “offensive” to women.

But Mr Hall, 75, said the name was not offensive and was never meant to refer to women but to food and said the decision was 'a nonsense'.

Now his campaign to run in the General Election is under threat as he faces redoing his leaflets and campaign literature with just eight weeks to go.

A letter Mr Hall received earlier this week from the Electoral Commission, which came to the decision after a review of parties on the register, states: “The review came to the view that your party name 'Beer, Baccy and Crumpet Party' registered in 2013, is, in our opinion, offensive.

“The review considered that the word 'crumpet' is likely to be considered as describing women as a sexual object in a demeaning way and would cause offence if it were to appear on the ballot paper.”

Mr Hall paid £1,000 to register the party back in 2013, but has spent nearly £4,000 on campaign literature ahead of the upcoming election.

The Electoral Commission has said he can register again free of charge, but with so little time before the election and the extra cost Mr Hall said he may have to abandon the campaign.

The Beer, Baccy and Crumpet Party was founded by Mr Hall, who won 235 votes at the February 2013 by-election as the candidate, coming seventh out of the 14 candidates.

Mr Hall, a silversmith, hopes that the commission will accept a change to Crumpets, but if not has come up with some alternative names - the Beer, Baccy and Trumpet Party, the Beer Baccy and Squeaky Wheel Party or the Beer, Baccy and Je Suis Charlie Party.

The party is at present a two-man band, but Mr Hall said he has around 60 people who have expressed interest in standing for the party in constituencies all over the country.

“I think it's unfair and the timing is terrible - how has it taken them two years to decide and they have left it to the very last minute,” said Mr Hall.

“I have had no complaints whatsoever. It hasn't upset anybody at all.

“I don't think it's offensive in the slightest and it's not intended to be offensive. It's a nonsense.

“It's meant to be quirky.

“I think somebody feels we might be a threat and has put pressure on the commission.”

An Electoral Commission spokeswoman said: “The law requires the Commission to form an opinion on whether any of these are obscene or offensive, or could cause voter confusion.

“The party has been informed that its name will now be removed from the registers and, if they wish, they can apply to register an amended name to appear on ballot papers in May.”