There should be even-handedness in meeting information requests from candidates from the different political parties. The pre-election restrictions are governed by Section 2 of the Local Government Act 19862, as amended in 1988.3 Essentially councils should not publish any material which, in whole or in part, appears to be designed to affect public support for a political party. 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. Consider whether you will allow visits from all candidates/political parties/campaign groups/other politicians and what format they will take. 7am to 10pm on Thursday 5 May 2022. However, you should always think carefully if a campaign could be deemed likely to influence the outcome of the election. Friday 26 November 2021 (predicted) Police, Fire and Crime Further advice on public appointments can be sought from the Cabinet Office Public Appointments Policy team. In particular, civil servants are under an obligation: In all cases essential business, which includes routine business necessary to ensure the continued smooth functioning of government and public services, must be allowed to continue. WebLocal elections are scheduled to be held in the United Kingdom in May 2023. Allow party political meetings to take place on your organisations premises. help with national political visits (as this would involve using public money to support a particular candidate or party). 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. 2024 London mayoral election - Wikipedia It would appear so. The Local Government Association has produced an exhaustive list of what councils definitively cannot do during purdah. The last Scottish council elections were held in 2017 on Thursday May 4, with all 32 of Scotlands local authorities in play. annex A template letter to councillors. Purdah (pre-election period) - Wikipedia On this occasion, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats agreed a Coalition Agreement and ended up in Coalition Government for five years. This also applies to requests from mayoral candidates. The answer is it does whilst it is not called Purdah. National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. 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. When local elections are being held at the same time as a general election, this higher standard is usually applied. BeeCollins#ProEU #PPR #FBPA on - Twitter 5 April 2022 The pre-election period (previously referred to as purdah) refers to the period shortly before an election or referendum when specific restrictions Elections in England are scheduled to be held on 4 May, with the Northern Ireland election scheduled to be held on 18 May. 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. ", UK Government Election guidance for civil servants, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Purdah_(pre-election_period)&oldid=1142092824, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2017, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from October 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 13:15. In the case of General Elections the period of Purdah does not end with the close of the ballot but instead when a new Government is formed. Campaigning efforts are already underway across many local authorities in Scotland, with purdah starting roughly three weeks before local elections and from Address: 157-197 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 9SP, Registered Charity 1140900 | Registered in England No 07525114, Providers deliver: resilient and resourceful through COVID-19, Digital Boards: Building and enabling digital teams, Securing the right support for ambulance services, Letter to Jeremy Hunt MP on the white paper on health and social care. Want full article access? Thursday 21 October 2021 Publication of the Notice of Election. What is election Purdah and why does it exist. She tweeted: "Riiight. This spring will see council elections held across the UK to determine which new councillors will support and run local authorities. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. The future of democracy is also a voting issue for many, with 70% of registered voters saying it is very important to their midterm vote. These elections will take place on Thursday 4 May 2023. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. In cases of doubt, further guidance should be sought from your Permanent Secretarys office (who may then seek advice from the Cabinet Office - see relevant paragraph. This briefing sets out the key issues discussed in the hearing and highlights where CPs are pushing for change. Well send you a link to a feedback form. Su. These occasions are likely to be rare and to be the exception, rather than the rule. Director of the Welsh NHS Confederation Darren Hughes responds to the latest NHS performance statistics in Wales. Something that has been sorely missing for decades under the former Labour MP and Labour Council. [8][9] The preferred terms are 'pre-election period' or 'heightened sensitivity' to refer to the period of electioneering.[10][11][12]. 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. The period of Purdah is defined by the type of election. Gordon Brown therefore remained a temporary Prime Minister until a Government could be formed. If in doubt, always refer to theguidance published by the Cabinet Office and the Civil Service. However this general principle is subject to any statutory provision which authorises expenditure being incurred on the publication of material designed to influence the public as to whether to support or oppose a question put at a referendum. The office of the National Statistician, and the Government Economic and Social Research Team can be contacted for further guidance. 21 Apr 2023 17:58:12 NDPBs and other ALBs spend public money, make public announcements, use government property and may employ civil servants. Local elections voting rules - can you take a pen and can you vote for someone else? You have accepted additional cookies. WebThe 2024 London mayoral election will be held on 2 May 2024 to elect the mayor of London, England. Local elections Sign up for your free weekly Guardian Public Leaders newsletter with news and analysis sent direct to you every Thursday. Voter ID requirement From 4 May 2023, voters in England will need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in some elections. Here's the low down. The Act disqualifies individuals subject to certain sexual offence legal orders from standing for election or holding office in local authorities. Particular care should be taken between the time of publication of a notice of an election and polling day. Dont include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. Elections to all 32 Scottish local authorities take place on 5 May 2022. Use of council facilities and resources; the members code of conduct, developing new policies and holding of events - including some meetings - featuring elected officials should all be carefully considered during a period of heightened sensitivity. Not surprisingly, it has. The publication of press notices and information regarding the holding of polls are exempt from these restrictions as is providing factual responses to specific requests for information, for example, information about how people can register to vote. 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.". This helps us to understand where we can improve functionality on the website to provide visitors with a better experience. This guide provides advice and guidance on the publicity restrictions that should be observed by local authorities during the pre-election period. Consider whether you will allow visits from all candidates/political parties/campaign groups/other politicians and what format they will take. Political row blew up over a tweet by Hartlepool Borough Council, since deleted, on the eve of the local elections, Sign up for free to get the latest North East news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. The rules on Special Advisers involvement in local and national political activities are set out in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Allow visits by candidates/political parties, national or local politicians, or campaign groups to your organisation to interrupt services or care for patients make sure your staff are aware of any visits in advance. [1] These will include district councils, unitary authorities, and directly-elected mayors in England, and all local councils in Northern Ireland. Pre-election period of sensitivity - House of Commons A number of elections are scheduled to take place on 6 May 2021, including those postponed in May 2020. These rules and regulations are set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) and are monitored and enforced by the Electoral Commission, an independent body that exists to ensure elections are transparent and fair. eCount bulletins for the 2022 Scottish Local Government Elections . Publicity relating to individuals involved directly in the election should not be published unless expressly authorised by statute. The pre-election period, previously known aspurdah, describes the period of time immediately before elections or referendums when specific restrictions on communications activity are in place. While Mr Houchen isn't up for re-election today, many Hartlepool councillors are. to a number of local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales, including a number of directly elected Mayors. In relation to decision making within the council, the position remains that it is business as usual unless there are very good reasons why this should not be the case. For civil servants, purdah begins on 13 April. BeeCollins#ProEU #PPR #FBPA on - Twitter It is important to remember that this applies to online communication such as social media, in the same way as other activity. 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. I had heard of purdah but didnt realise that local elections had a period of heightened sensitivity. Pre-Election Period Commences For the 8 June 2017 United Kingdom general election, the pre election period began on 22 April,[13] and for the 12 December 2019 United Kingdom general election, the pre-election period commenced on 6 November. Use of council facilities and resources; the members code of conduct, developing new policies and holding of events (including some meetings) featuring elected officials should all be carefully considered during a period of heightened sensitivity. Should you have any questions about the pre-election period, please do not hesitate to contact our External Affairs team. Do not publish any publicity on controversial issues or report views on proposals in a way which identifies them with candidates or parties. 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. In general you should not issue any publicity which seeks to influence voters (an exception being situations covered by legislation or regulations directing publication of information for explanatory purposes). Purdah is not written into statute, meaning it is a convention in UK Politics. referring to advice published by your Returning Officer and/or Monitoring Officer, the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity. 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). Care should also be taken in relation to proposed visits. Scottish Local Government Elections 2022; Downloads for the 5 May 2022 Scottish Local Government Elections . The pre-election period (previously referred toas 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. Jeff Stelling leaving Sky Sports after 30 years with Soccer Saturday, Ryanair cancels 220 flights over May 1 bank holiday due to strikes, Hardcore coronation fans already camped outside Buckingham Palace, One dead and seven injured in Cornwall nightclub knife attack, Coronation Street actress Barbara Young dies aged 92, Eurovision acts land in Liverpool ahead of Song Contest, Council elections: Scottish Labour candidate Vanessa Shand axed after 'Catholic monarchy' comment and SNP's Siobhan Tolland urged to quit following Pope slur. This briefing sets out considerations for NHS foundation trusts and trusts in the period of time known as the pre-election period or purdah leading up to the 2022 local government elections. This includes announcing any new spending, launching new strategies or publishing any form of new policy that had not been agreed before the purdah period began. It is for individual public bodies to apply this pre-election guidance within their own organisations, but in doing so they should not go beyond the principles set out in this document. What does Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen have to say about it? You can think of it as local government 'screening itself' from controversy, by not taking certain decisions or publishing statements which could influence voters. Labour Party incumbent Sadiq Khan is running for re-election to a third term in office. In cases of doubt, guidance should be sought from the Government Communications Service in the Cabinet Office. It is for individual public bodies to apply this pre-election guidance within their own organisations, but in doing so they should not go beyond the principles set out in this guidance. Election guidance for civil servants - GOV.UK During the pre-election period, departments should carefully consider the timing of decisions and announcements in relation to large and/or contentious commercial contracts or grants which could have a bearing on matters relevant to the 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). 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. WebNext elections. 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]. The latest date for pre-election period starting for local authority elections is 29 March. Add Pre-Election Period Commences to your calendar using VCS format. 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. Guidance added for May 2023 local elections. They had been required to do so following an earlier court judgement. Government property should not be used by Ministers or candidates for electioneering purposes. WebPre-election Period (Purdah) Guidance For PCC Elections May 2020 1. Elections will take place to the Northern Ireland Assembly. publish factual information to counteract misleading, controversial or extreme (for example, racist/sexist) information. 2023 local elections A number of councils will have elections on Thursday 4 May 2023. The pre election period typically begins six weeks before the scheduled election, in each authority on the day the notice of election is published; for the 2017 elections to Combined Authority Mayors, purdah began on 23 March. so this is the returning officer for the Hartlepool elections tomorrow openly endorsing the Tory Mayor & his purdah-breaking announcement today.". The pre-election period (informally known as 'purdah') begins with the publication of the Notice of Election for an election, and runs until the election has taken place. To vote at a polling station, you will need to bring photo ID. While most of the everyday business of central and local government obviously continues in the run-up to the elections, all staff must be scrupulous in the pre-election period to ensure that public resources are not used for party political purposes and not to undertake any activity that could call into question their political impartiality. Campaigning efforts are already underway across many local authorities in Scotland, with purdah starting roughly three weeks before local elections and from April 14 this year. It is your decision whether to invite them or not. The possible breach was spotted by Anna Turley, ex Labour MP for Redcar. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Purdah, which comes from the Hindustani word (Hindi: or Urdu: , pard) means curtain or veil. Allow visits by candidates/political parties, national and local politicians or campaign groups to your organisation to interrupt services or care for patients make sure your staff are aware of any visits in advance. This was confirmed in a High Court case called R. v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Officials should not be asked to provide new arguments for use in election campaign debates. How can we best deliver out of hospital care? 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 following general principles should be observed by all civil servants, including Special Advisers: As with all UK Government Ministers, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland continues to be in charge of his department, and civil servants should continue to support him. The terms pre-election period and heightened sensitivity are nowused instead. If you have any questions or need further information, please refer to Cabinet Office guidance (PDF). The latest date that the pre-election period can start for the local elections is Monday 27 March 2023. #BensBoondoggles#CrabKiller. Councillors are still free to respond to enquiries received from the media in a personal capacity. The pre-election period does not apply to candidates for political office. (modern). We use some essential cookies to make this website work. Sponsor departments should be consulted by the NDPB/ALB in cases of doubt. 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. Subject to the principles set out below, UK Government business can continue. local elections Detailed guidance on the restrictions on civil servants involvement in a private capacity in local and national political activities is set out in section 4.4 of the Civil Service Management Code, and in departmental staff handbooks. WebLocal elections are scheduled to be held in the United Kingdom in May 2023. Tips and rules for social media platforms during the pre-election period. Section 44 of the Act makes clear that councils need to have regard to the code of recommended practice. The pre-election period has implications for NHS organisations, including the arm's-length bodies. The elections will take place to elect all of the 66 ward councillors (three councillors in each ward). that local NHS organisations observe the pre-election period from, guidance published by the Cabinet Office and the Civil Service. This guidance provides advice on the publicity restrictions that should be observed during the pre-election period. The by-election is a needless expense for the cash-strapped council that has been caused by Tory Mayor Jason Perry putting himself Local government sometimes views this period as a time when communications has to shut down completely.