Please read ICAO Annex 6, Part 2, Chapter 4, 4.6.1 This deals with VFR flights and is the UK standard in this regard.
Annex 6 part 2 does not regulate private flights within the UK. The flight that is relevant to this thread was Blackpool to Exeter, to Blackpool. It was regulated by the ANO.
PS You are also wrong about the IFR flight - An IFR flight can only depart for a destination which is below minima when it has two suitable alternates above alternate minima
And again you quote an inappropriate regulation. That's a JAR-OPS1 requirement (1.295). It doesn't apply to private flights in the UK.
Art 49 (6B) A flight shall not be continued towards the aerodrome of intended landing unless the latest available information indicates that conditions at that aerodrome, or at least one alternate aerodrome, will, at the estimated time of arrival, be at or above the specified aerodrome operating minima. (My
bold).