The fascist Britain First party will have “Remember Lee Rigby” as its slogan on European election ballot papers, the Electoral Commission confirmed yesterday.

The murder of the 25-year-old on the streets of London by extremists last year was pounced on by the nazi group, which successfully registered the slogan for its candidates in Wales.

An independent review of the decision to allow the slogan to be used by the commission found the description has “caused deep offence and distress.”

Electoral Commission chairwoman Jenny Watson pledged to put in place rules to “ensure a similar mistake is never repeated.”

Welsh voters will however, still be confronted with the offensive slogan at polling stations on May 22.

An emergency meeting was held between Electoral Commission officials and Welsh government officers to consider issuing new ballot papers.

But a commission spokesman said: “It was clear there was no way to get the ballot papers changed without having a knock-on effect in the election process.

“Regrettably in election law, once you’ve reached that stage you can’t really take it off.”

No2EU — Yes to Workers’ Rights lead Wales candidate Rob Griffiths insisted new ballot papers must be used.

“The ballot papers should be pulped and the bill should be sent to this squalid fascist group that has tried to make such cynical use of dead soldiers,” he said.

“We will be exposing the real character of fascist groups such as Britain First and the BNP and identifying the pro-banking and big business agenda of Ukip.”