For example, there are restrictions on spending, with each campaign able to spend a limited amount depending on the number of candidates they are putting forward. This document provides advice on the publicity restrictions that should be observed during the pre-election period. Purdah is not written into statute, meaning it is a convention in UK Politics. "Rules around Purdah set out how public bodies, using public resources, should act during an election period. During the period between the notice of an election and the election itself, local authorities should not publish any publicity on controversial issues or report views or proposals in such a way that identifies them with any individual members or groups of members. Local elections The latest date for pre-election period starting for local authority elections is 29 March. What does Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen have to say about it? It saw Scotlands largest local authority change hands from Scottish Labour for the first time since 1980. A pre election period in local government ends on the close of polls which, for ordinary elections, is usually on the first Thursday in May. At any other time - ie not during the run up to local elections - it would have appeared a positive enough tweet by Hartlepool Borough Council relaying good news to residents about new investment coming its way. Instead it is called a period of heightened sensitivity. The latest date for pre-election period starting for local authority elections is 29 March. Purdah is a Separate conduct guidance will be circulated by the Northern Ireland Executive to their civil servants. Su. Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. Obviously, this needs to be balanced carefully against any implication that deferral itself could influence the political outcome. Generally, the Act says that we should not publish any material which, in whole, or in part, appears to be designed to affect public support for a political party. The Code of Practice recommends that authorities should generally not issue any publicity which seeks to influence voters and that publicity relating to individuals involved directly in the election should not be published unless expressly authorised by statute. The 2017 local elections marked the emergence of the Scottish Conservatives as the second largest party in local government in Scotland, echoing the partys successes south of the border in England and Wales. A breach of purdah before the 2022 local elections? [1] These will include district councils, unitary authorities, and directly-elected mayors in England, and all local councils in Northern Ireland. annex A template letter to councillors. Additional care should therefore be taken around press and marketing activity concerning: (a) Northern Ireland issues or (b) local issues. As you will be aware, the local elections are due to take place on 4 May 2023 so I thought it would be useful to remind you about the guidelines and restrictions on publicity during the pre-election period that starts on 27 March 2023. During this period, for example: The Government are expected not to enact any new initiatives that might well be considered to be of political benefit to them. Deadline emergency proxy vote applications. Insiders to the Brown camp after the 2010 election describe him as being desperate to do something proactive, but being reminded by the Civil Service of his responsibilities under Purdah. It is the six week, pre-election period - which begin on this occasion on March 21 - between the announcement of an election and the date the Allow party political meetings to take place on your organisations premises. Consider whether you will allow visits from all candidates/political parties/campaign groups/other politicians and what format they will take. You have rejected additional cookies. There should be even-handedness in meeting information requests from the different political parties and campaigning groups. The period of sensitivity preceding the local elections is not fixed to any particular date, but the general convention is that special care should be taken in the three weeks preceding the elections in this case from 14 April 2022. We contacted him and he issued a statement saying: "I announced last week that I will set up a Development Corporation in Hartlepool, similar to that of Teesworks in Redcar. In cases of doubt, in the first instance you should consult your Permanent Secretarys Office. For General Elections Purdah comes into effect at the start of the official election campaign (which by law must last for at least six weeks). The first question to ask is: could a reasonable person conclude that you were spending public money to influence the outcome of the election?. Continue to plan communications activity for post the pre-election period. Director of the Welsh NHS Confederation Darren Hughes responds to the latest NHS performance statistics in Wales. It is permissible for local authorities to publish factual information which identifies the names, wards and parties of candidates at elections. The Cabinet Office issues guidance before each election to civil servants, including those in the devolved national parliaments and assemblies. There will also be elections to all 32 London Boroughs, as well as 6 council mayoral elections and one combined authority mayoral election. What is election Purdah and why does it exist. WebDate: Monday 28 March 2022. The Hartlepool Borough Council tweet that was later deleted. It refers specifically to the segregation of the sexes and the requirement for women to cover their bodies. The essential points from the code are: Publicity is defined as any communication, in whatever form, addressed to the public at large or to a section of the public. Official support must not be given to visits and events with a party political or campaigning purpose. Given the nature of these elections, there are tighter restrictions on activity for those working for the Northern Ireland Executive and local government than for the UK Government. The electoral system used to elect local councillors is Single Transferable Vote (STV), which requires voters to rank candidates in order of preference with 1 being the highest. If there are exceptional circumstances where launching a consultation is considered essential (for example, for safeguarding public health), advice should be sought from your Permanent Secretarys office (who may then seek advice from the Cabinet Office - see relevant paragraph). Should you have any questions about the pre-election period, please do not hesitate to. referring to advice published by your Returning Officer and/or Monitoring Officer, the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity. Ministers will wish to be aware of the potential sensitivities in this regard and might decide, on advice, to postpone making certain announcements until after the elections. Some public appointments made by UKG Ministers could have an effect on the Northern Ireland devolved administration, for example where the remit of the body has specific Northern Ireland responsibilities, or there is a requirement to consult in relation to a UK wide body. At all times, local authorities should ensure that publicity complies with all applicable statutory provisions, including the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity 2011. With health and care issues high on the political agenda, here are some tips for any communications activity during the pre-election period. Sponsor departments must ensure that staff and board members of their NDPBs and other ALBs are aware of the guidance and are applying the principles appropriately. Its a double-edged sword: some favoured projects will get kicked into the long grass, never to see the light of day again. It also covers the requirements on central and local government, the civil service and arms length bodies during the pre-election period to maintain political impartiality in carrying out their public duties and ensuring that public resources are not used for the purposes of political parties or campaign groups. Political activity connected with local elections falls within the definition of local political activity. Section 2 of the Local Government Act 1986 prohibits the publication by local authorities of material which, in whole or in part, appears to be designed to affect public support for a political party. For more information please see our cookie policy. Requests for information should be handled in accordance with the principles set out at the beginning of this note and with the Code of Practice for Statistics. Add Pre-Election Period Commences to your calendar using VCS format. London Assembly The latest date for pre-election On Twitter, Sadiq Khan hailed the most significant addition to our transport network in decades as he claimed the line would revolutionise travel across London and the South East. Find out which areas have local elections this May . Particular care should be taken between the time of publication of a notice of an election and polling day. Further guidance may be sought from the Union and Constitution Directorate and the Parliamentary Business and Legislation Team in the Cabinet Office. The pre-election period has been imposed in ministerial guidance since at least the early 20th century reflecting an earlier "self-denying ordinance", and has considerable moral authority, its breach carrying with it in worst cases the possibility of actions for abuse of power and misconduct in public office. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk. Publicity relating to individuals involved directly in the election should not be published by local authorities during this period unless expressly authorised by or under statute. Transport for London, which is controlled by the mayor, revealed on Wednesday that the long-awaited London-spanning rail link, which will connect the centre of London to Berkshire in the west and Essex in the east, will finally open on May 24. Purdah is a term in British politics that refers to a period in which governments are expected to act in a way that is mindful of the upcoming election. But what is purdah, what does it mean and how can it possibly affect you? 168 independent councillors were elected, while the Scottish Liberal Democrats and Scottish Greens achieved 67 and 19 councillors respectively. Our tips for NHS organisations' activities over the pre-election period ahead of elections across the UK in May 2022. for both elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly and elections to local authorities (including mayoralties) in England, Wales and Scotland local authority and mayoral elections in England. Join us at Manchester Central as we and NHS England unite health and care leaders and their teams at one of the biggest health and care conferences. Yes, I think they have a fair point. Local Government Association company number 11177145, A short guide to publicity during the pre-election period, Annex A: Template letter for sending to councillors ahead of local elections, Membership and services for councils and councillors, LGA principal advisers and regional teams, Licences, regulations and trading standards. 3 March 2022. WebPurdah/pre-election period. In addition a Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity published in 2011 makes clear that particular care should be taken in periods of heightened sensitivity, such as in the run up to an election. While the Labour Party will continue to whinge about anything I do for the area, I haven't broken any rules by doing my job and it seems to me my opponents realise just how popular this project will be in Hartlepool.". WebThe Local Government Disqualification Act 2022 came into effect on 28 June 2022. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/recommended-code-of-practice-for-local-authority-publicity234, Draft legislation is currently before Parliament which will, if approved: dissolve the County and district councils in the current Cumbria County Council area, replacing them with two unitary councils (Cumberland, and Westmorland and Furness); dissolve the district councils in North Yorkshire and Somerset, replacing them with a unitary council each for these County Councils areas. For example, allowing certain public awareness activities that could be deemed party political including open board discussions on future strategy, market research and public rallies, and producing election materials or canvassing. 33 organisations come together to ask Welsh Government ministers how they are working with officials to reduce the impact of inequalities and poverty. This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. Something that has been sorely missing for decades under the former Labour MP and Labour Council. As mayoral and council candidates turn out to canvass, strict rules kick in for civil servants and local government staff. #BensBoondoggles#CrabKiller. Friday 26 November 2021 (predicted) Police, Fire and Crime It was quickly deleted. The LGA would like to thank LGcommunications, Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council and Eastleigh Borough Council in the creation of this document. In cases of doubt, guidance should be sought from the Government Communications Service in the Cabinet Office. During this time, communications in the form of either announcements or activities by NHS organisations should be avoided if they could influence, or be regarded as influencing, the outcome of elections. Do these Be selective if you are inviting local candidates/political parties/campaign groups/other politicians to your premises invitations should be sent to all or none. Although NHS staff are not generally regarded as civil servants, pre-election periods are increasingly enforced on NHS bodies. National Health Service [ edit] During this period, departments may continue to receive and analyse responses. If in doubt, always refer to Cabinet Office guidance (PDF). To vote at a polling station, you will need to bring photo ID. Publicity relating to individuals involved directly in the election should not be published unless expressly authorised by statute. Well send you a link to a feedback form. In Scotland, elections will be held in all 32 local authorities. These are outlined in the Polling Stations (Regulation) Bill of 2007. There are strict rules governing civil servants and local government staff in pre-election period, usually known as purdah (a term from the Persian for curtain or veil). When making your decision, you should consider the following: You should also think carefully before you: If you are in any doubt, seek advice from your returning officer and/or monitoring officer, legal or communications colleagues. These cookies help make the website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. Consider suspending the hosting of third party material or closing public forums if these are likely to breach the codeof practice. It affects civil servants who must be politically impartial, preventing central and local government from making announcements about any new or controversial government initiatives that could be seen to be advantageous to any candidates or parties in the forthcoming election. Thursday 25 November Election day. Find out what you need to know about publicity during the pre-election period. The most frequently asked questions about the pre-election period. 2017s local election results saw the SNP lose seven of their council seats and one local authority altogether, but the party also declared a historic victory in gaining Glasgow City Council from Scottish Labour. In the case of NHS property, decisions are for the relevant NHS body, but should visits be permitted to, for example, hospitals, it should be on the basis that there is no disruption to services and that the same facilities are available to all candidates. We've contacted the council for comment. The aim should be to respond to requests from candidates and campaigners as soon as possible. She tweeted: "Riiight. Where it is clear that it will not be possible to provide a quick response, the candidate should be given the opportunity to refine the request if they wish so that it can be responded to more quickly. WebNext elections. Keep any communications with local candidates/political parties/campaign groups/other politicians to a factual and apolitical basis apply the same approach to any requests for information, communications with the media and in the public sphere. All in all, the SNP came out on top with 431 councillors in total elected in 2017, compared with the Scottish Conservatives 276 and 262 seats for Scottish Labour. Coincidentally, in a similar case just this week, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps reported Londons Labour mayor Sadiq Khan to the Electoral Commission, accusing him of breaching purdah rules by announcing the opening date for Crossrail one day before local elections in the city. We analyse the latest monthly performance data from NHS England and feature a case study from University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. All rights reserved. Social research activities should be in accordance with the Government Social Research (GSR) Code and supplementary guidance, including the GSR Publication Protocol. Launch new consultations unless essential, promote or publish responses to existing consultations until after the pre-election period. Purdah The pre-election period in which rules are put in place to prevent the Government from politicising issues to their electoral advantage. Voter ID requirement From 4 May 2023, voters in England will need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in some elections. Undertake any activity that could be considered politically controversial or influential, or could give rise to criticism that public resources are being used for party political/campaigning purposes. After the previous Scottish council elections in 2017 saw Scottish Labours presence in local government decline further, the party led by Anas Sarwar will be hoping to regain lost ground as the SNP seem set to continue to their success at the ballot box. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. It is your decision whether to invite them or not. In response to requests from council communications teams to produce simple guidance to communicating during the pre-election period (previously known as purdah), we are publishing this short, updated guide. Section 39 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 inserted sections 4A and 4B into the Local Government Act 1986 which provide powers for the Secretary of State to issue a notice to comply or explain, followed after non-compliance, by a direction; and to issue a more general Order if approved by Parliament across multiple authorities to comply in some respects with provisions of the recommendatory, good practice, code. The office of the National Statistician, and the Government Economic and Social Research Team can be contacted for further guidance. Launch large-scale PR campaigns during this period. This will apply to: News stories, speeches, letters and notices, Reports, analysis and official statistics, Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports. WebThe next full local elections in East Suffolk will be held on Thursday 4 May 2023. The pre-election period (know previously as purdah) refers to the period shortly before an election or referendum when specific restrictions on the activity of public bodies, civil servants and local government officials are put in place. This event brings together those focused on keeping people well at home and in the community. The Cabinet Office will publish its guidance to this years purdah period. his is important in the event of there being a hung parliament and different parties considering options for coalition. Continue to run campaign material to support your own local campaigns. The convention sees a three to six week pre-election period of heightened sensitivity and increased care to respected by current councillors and elected representatives. This is particularly important where a consultation will require the participation of: (a) the Northern Ireland devolved administration, which is under its own pre-election restrictions during this period, or (b) Local Authorities which are under their own pre-election publicity restrictions during this period[footnote 1]. Want full article access? Local council elections therefore see citizens vote for councillors, with three or four elected per ward. Others may get a bit of nurturing. Local authorities should pay particular regard to the legislation governing publicity during the period of heightened sensitivity before elections and referendums. (modern). Friday 26 November 2021 Election count. It's been criticised as a racist and sexist term, hasn't it? What you should and shouldn't do during the pre-election period. that local NHS organisations observe the pre-election period from, guidance published by the Cabinet Office and the Civil Service. It is still possible for the council to issue statements on behalf of a councillor holding a key political or civic position provided it relates to important events which are outside the councils control and can be shown to justify a member response. Official resources must not be used in support of the elections. Confine your communication activities and announcements to those necessary for the safety and quality of patient care. Not surprisingly, it has. In Muslim or Hindu societies, it referred to the practice of screening women from men or strangers, often involving a curtain or women being covered in certain garments. The Government published a Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity in 2011. Sponsor departments should be consulted by the NDPB/ALB in cases of doubt. 21 Apr 2023 17:58:12 publish factual information to counteract misleading, controversial or extreme (for example, racist/sexist) information. However, the High court ruled that as Purdah was not prescribed in statute and therefore could not override a court order. Local Authorities (unitary councils, and district councils in two-tier county areas) can identify which town and parish councils are being elected to. Do not publish any publicity on controversial issues or report views on proposals in a way which identifies them with candidates or parties. Wednesday 27 April 2022 . It would appear so. This was evident in 2010 when the Conservatives were the largest party but did not have a majority. [1] The pre-election period also continues after the election during the time in which new MPs and ministers are sworn in. Similarly, national announcements by the UK Government may have a particular impact on Northern Ireland. Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Each case should be considered on its merits. Local authorities, defined in section 6(2) of the 1986 Act, are required by section 4(1) of the 1986 Act to have regard to the Publicity Code in coming to any decision on publicity. Is this why Hartlepool Borough Council could have broken the rules? If a consultation is ongoing during this period, it should continue as normal. What can and cant be done during election purdah. In England, elections will take place to 33 Metropolitan borough councils, 21 Unitary District Councils, and 60 District Councils. Director of the Welsh NHS Confederation Darren Hughes responds to the latest NHS performance statistics in Wales. The possible breach was spotted by Anna Turley, ex Labour MP for Redcar. The pre-election period will run from 21 March 2022 until the close of polls on 5 May at 10pm. This briefing sets out NHS Providers overall position on the Bill and our view on amendments 3 and 4. General Elections in the UK are strictly regulated. to ensure that public resources are not used for party political purposes; and. For civil servants, purdah begins on 13 April. Not a problem! I assume that this is what the Conservatives were up in arms about wrongly in my opinion as it was TfL when the Elizabeth Line opening was announced. This guidance does not apply to Local Authorities, who are subject to their own restrictions during the pre-election period. The latest date that the pre-election period can start for the local elections The Publicity Code is issued under powers conferred on the Secretary of State under section 4(1) of the Local Government Act 1986 (the 1986 Act). [2][3][4][5][6][7], The use of purdah to refer to the period between the announcement of an election and the formation of a new elected body has fallen out of use in the UK following criticism of its sexist origins. 14 June 2023 08:30 - 15 June 2023 17:00 GMT. For example, allowing certain public awareness activities that could be deemed party political, market research and public rallies, and producing election materials or canvassing. The decisions on the use of other Local Authority properties should be for those legally responsible for the premises. Where a court determines that actual advantage has been given to a candidate, this may amount to a breach of Section 2 of the Local Government Act 1986. Publication of final election notice of alteration. Particular care should be taken over official support, and the use of public resources, including publicity, for government announcements that could have a bearing on matters relevant to the elections. It is important to remember that this applies to online communication such as social media, in the same way as other activity. This note provides guidance to civil servants in UK Government departments, and the staff and members of non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) and other arms-length bodies (ALBs) on their role and conduct during the forthcoming election campaigns. It highlights the practical implications around providers activities, including in relation to integrated care systems (ICSs), and with regard to communication during the pre-election period. Publicity is defined in section 6(4) of the 1986 Act as any communication, in whatever form, addressed to the public at large or a section of the public. WebLocal elections are scheduled to be held in the United Kingdom in May 2023. In such cases you should stop or defer them. The primary restriction is on proactive publicity by the council which particularly relates to candidates and other politicians involved directly in the election. This guidance provides advice on the publicity restrictions that should be observed during the pre-election period. The Act defines publicity as any communication, in whatever form, addressed to the public at large or to a section of the public.. 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A breach of This spring will see council elections held across the UK to determine which new councillors will support and run local authorities. Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. The Civil Service (who are required to be politically impartial anyway) monitor and ensure they Purdah is enforced throughout the different Government departments. Very clearly explained. The last Scottish council elections were held in 2017 on Thursday May 4, with all 32 of Scotlands local authorities in play. WebRT @raycasey2003: Dirty Dozen - the Top12 #BenHouchen cronies No.8Denise McGuckin PART 2 OF 4 Denise McGuckin will do anything to please her Daddy Ben. On Thursday 5 May 2022, elections will be taking place: to the Northern Ireland Assembly; to a number of local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales, The UK Government will remain in office whatever the outcome of the elections. continue to discharge normal council business (including budget consultations or determining planning applications, even if they are controversial). Councillors are elected when successful candidates achieve the most transferred votes, with votes reallocated to other candidates when no single candidate achieves an overall threshold of votes and the candidate with the lowest number of votes drops out, and has their votes reallocated to second choice candidates. Again, in cases of doubt, further advice should be sought. NDPBs and other ALBs spend public money, make public announcements, use government property and may employ civil servants. Continue to conduct normal business and adhere to good governance and regulation. [8][9] The preferred terms are 'pre-election period' or 'heightened sensitivity' to refer to the period of electioneering.[10][11][12]. Labour Party incumbent Sadiq Khan is It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Departments with Bills containing provisions that may impact on Northern Ireland or require Legislative Consent Motions should therefore discuss the position with the Union and Constitution Directorate and the Parliamentary Business and Legislation Team in the Cabinet Office, the Northern Ireland Office, and their policy contacts in the Northern Ireland Executive.