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. General Elections in the UK are strictly regulated. It was quickly deleted. On Thursday 5 May 2022, elections will be taking place: Further information on the areas affected is attached at Annex A. This was confirmed in a High Court case called R. v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 7am to 10pm on Thursday 5 May 2022. You can think of it as local government 'screening itself' from controversy, by not taking certain decisions or publishing statements which could influence voters. 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. "Rules around Purdah set out how public bodies, using public resources, should act during an election period. A number of councils will have elections on Thursday 4 May 2023. The first question to ask is: could a reasonable person conclude that you were spending public money to influence the outcome of the election?. It's been criticised as a racist and sexist term, hasn't it? This spring will see council elections held across the UK to determine which new councillors will support and run local authorities. WebThe Local Government Disqualification Act 2022 came into effect on 28 June 2022. Where observed by executive officers, the pre-election period bars entering into any transactions or carrying out any works which would clearly or directly conflict with the stated intentional commitments (manifesto) of the cabinet or shadow cabinet in any authority. One difference with Hartlepool was that Mr Khan was not quoted in Transport for Londons public announcement or press release, and purdah guidelines state that some forms of normal government business can continue during the period. 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. 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 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. 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). Social research activities should be in accordance with the Government Social Research (GSR) Code and supplementary guidance, including the GSR Publication Protocol. Consider suspending the hosting of third party material or closing public forums if these are likely to breach the codeof practice. Preceding legislation had already postponed the County elections in these areas until May 2022; therefore elections will take place in these county areas regardless of the legislative outcome. It will only move the next ordinary local government elections by one year from May 2021 to May 2022. Elections in England are scheduled to be held on 4 May, with the Northern Ireland election scheduled to be held on 18 May. The last Scottish council elections were held in 2017 on Thursday May 4, with all 32 of Scotlands local authorities in play. Where it is clear that a candidates request is a Freedom of Information (FoI) request it must be handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. Find out about the Energy Bills Support Scheme, Statistical and social research activities, Non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) and other arms-length bodies (ALBs), Annex A: List of elections taking place in May 2022, nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3, principles set out at the beginning of this note, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/recommended-code-of-practice-for-local-authority-publicity. 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. The latest date for pre-election period starting for local authority elections is 29 March. With the English, Welsh and Scottish Local Elections taking place on the 5th May it is worth asking whether Purdah also applies to local elections. The aim should be to respond to requests from candidates and campaigners as soon as possible. We have updated Part 1 of our guidance for Candidates and Agents to reflect this. 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. 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. Not a problem! The Local Government Association has produced an exhaustive list of what councils definitively cannot do during purdah. Separate conduct guidance will be circulated by the Northern Ireland Executive to their civil servants. If in doubt, always refer to theguidance published by the Cabinet Office and the Civil Service. These restrictions apply to all elections happening during this period. The Act disqualifies individuals subject to certain sexual offence legal orders from standing for election or holding office in local authorities. Very clearly explained. Su. Scottish Local Government Elections 2022; Downloads for the 5 May 2022 Scottish Local Government Elections . The Department for Education has published guidance for schools on political impartiality during political events, and guidance specifically relating to the pre-election period. Special care should be taken in respect of paid publicity campaigns and to ensure that publicity is not open to the criticism that it is being undertaken for party political purposes. The primary restriction is on proactive publicity by the council which particularly relates to candidates and other politicians involved directly in the election. Well send you a link to a feedback form. Official support must not be given to visits and events with a party political or campaigning purpose. What is election Purdah and why does it exist. This also applies to requests from mayoral candidates. 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. Wednesday 27 April 2022. This is not the case, and the ordinary functions of councils can continue, but some restrictions may be imposed by law. The rules preclude public bodies from publishing any material which, in whole, or in part, appears to be designed to affect public support for a political party. It could be argued that as a Conservative he was using the announcement to bolster support for Tory candidates in Hartlepool. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. The principles set out here are not about restricting commentary from independent sources, for example academics who may also hold public appointments or non-executive roles in government departments or public bodies. Continue to plan communications activity for post the pre-election period. In England, elections will take place to 33 Metropolitan borough councils, 21 Unitary District Councils, and 60 District Councils. 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. It meant that the council, in putting out the tweet, could be in breach of purdah rules. We use cookies and reporting technology to ensure we offer you the best experience across our website and analyse our traffic. Usually, purdah is fairly uncontroversial. Turnout in Scottish council elections in 2017 was also up by 8%, with 41% turnout overall. When no party has an overall majority, it may take some time before a minority or coalition government is formed. Separate conduct guidance will also be issued by the Scottish Government and Welsh Government to civil servants working for the respective devolved administrations and their agencies and public bodies. The period of sensitivity for Local Authorities holding elections is different from that recommended for the UK Government in this guidance. Local elections in Northern Ireland are taking place on 18 May 2023. The Civil Service (who are required to be politically impartial anyway) monitor and ensure they Purdah is enforced throughout the different Government departments. On Polling day there are strict rules that dictate behaviour. For civil servants, purdah begins on 13 April. 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.". All rights reserved. It should be read in conjunction with any guidance produced by your own Returning Officer or Monitoring Officer, which provides specific advice depending on your local circumstances. Find out what you need to know about publicity during the pre-election period. Follow us on Twitter via @Guardianpublic, Labour chooses first female candidates for mayoral elections, General election purdah looms for 400,000 civil servants, Purdah period set to silence officials on EU referendum from Friday, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Departments should also consider extending consultation periods after the elections to allow all parties sufficient time to respond. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. The process, viewed as more proportional than the Additional Members System used in Holyrood elections and First Past the Post system of UK general elections, then continues until all of a wards councillors are elected. Councillors are still free to respond to enquiries received from the media in a personal capacity. Elections will take place to the Northern Ireland Assembly. You may also be interested in the guidance produced by the National Cyber Security Centre and the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure, which contains reminders around good cyber security practices for the systems that support the delivery of UK elections. [1] These will include district councils, unitary authorities, and directly-elected mayors in England, and all local councils in Northern Ireland. This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/election-guidance-for-civil-servants/may-2022-elections-guidance-on-conduct-for-civil-servants-html. You can find more information from the following: Guidelines and restrictions on decision making and publicity during the pre-election period. 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. [17] In 2017 it was decided that the financial result of the NHS provider sector, normally published in May each year, should be postponed until after the General Election. Deadline emergency proxy vote applications. 21 Apr 2023 17:58:12 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. For UK and devolved government departments the pre-election period for local elections is not Obviously it's open to interpretation. When does purdah kick in ahead of the May elections? 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. continue to discharge normal council business (including budget consultations or determining planning applications, even if they are controversial). Web2022 local elections: pre-election period considerations for NHS providers. Confine your communication activities and announcements to those necessary for the safety and quality of patient care. Section 44 of the Act makes clear that councils need to have regard to the code of recommended practice. [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. Labour Party incumbent Sadiq Khan is Further guidance may be sought from the Union and Constitution Directorate and the Parliamentary Business and Legislation Team in the Cabinet Office. Its a double-edged sword: some favoured projects will get kicked into the long grass, never to see the light of day again. An example might be a campaign on an issue which has been subject of local political debate and/or disagreement. Want full article access? The rules are different for staff in central government and local government. Allow party political meetings to take place on your organisations premises. The first question to ask is could a reasonable person conclude that you are spending public money to influence the outcome of the election? In other words it must pass the is it reasonable test. Consider whether you will allow visits from all candidates/political parties/campaign groups/other politicians and what format they will take. 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. Dont include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. Set out below are some key principles which Police and Crime Commissioners and Deputies should consider during the sensitive period prior to those elections commonly referred to as purdah. 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. 33. To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. The by-election is a needless expense for the cash-strapped council that has been caused by Tory Mayor Jason Perry putting himself In doing so, civil servants will wish to be aware of the need to avoid any action that is, or could be construed as being, party political or otherwise controversial in the context of the elections. 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. Find out what you need to know about publicity during the pre-election period. It should be read in conjunction with any guidance produced by your own returning officer or monitoring officer, which provides specific advice depending on your local circumstances. UK Government departments should carefully consider the handling of primary legislation that includes provisions on Northern Ireland matters during the election period. Find out more about becoming a Herefordshire It will not be possible for the Northern Ireland Executive to seek their legislatures consent for any provisions in UK Government Bills that require Legislative Consent Motions once the Northern Ireland Assembly has been dissolved on 28 March. If you do, remember to keep your policy around visits consistent and impartial. Councils cannot make any decisions which could influence or prejudice the outcome of either their own elections or others taking place at the same time. Regular pre-announced statistical releases (for example, press notices or bulletin publications) will continue to be issued and published. Launch large-scale PR campaigns during this period. Local elections The latest date for pre-election period starting for local authority elections is 29 March. 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. Local elections 4 May 2023 There will be full district and parish elections in West Suffolk on Thursday 4 May 2023. In Wales, elections will be held in all 22 local authorities. During this period, departments may continue to receive and analyse responses. 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. Purdah is a Webreferred to in the past as Purdah. March 20, 2022 - 12:49 pm. In the event of an inconclusive election result, purdah does not end until a new government forms. help with national political visits (as this would involve using public money to support a particular candidate or party). 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. 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 Particular care will need to be taken during this period to ensure that civil servants conduct themselves in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Service Code. For more information please see our cookie policy. 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). eCount bulletins for the 2022 Scottish Local Government Elections . Purdah The pre-election period in which rules are put in place to prevent the Government from politicising issues to their electoral advantage. It is important to remember that this applies to online communication such as social media, in the same way as other activity. Each local authority sets 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. 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. 35. 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. 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. Want to join the conversation? However, it needs to be borne in mind that the activities of the UK Government could have a bearing on the election campaigns. These elections are different from a UK general election. 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. What does Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen have to say about it? [1][16], Care during periods of heightened sensitivity. If you do, remember to keep your policy around visits consistent and impartial. 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. This event brings together those focused on keeping people well at home and in the community. Friday 26 November 2021 Election count. The Act requires public authorities to respond to requests promptly and in any event not later than 20 working days after the date of receipt. She tweeted: "Riiight. There should be even-handedness in meeting information requests from candidates from the different political parties. However, departments should avoid taking action that will compete with candidates for the attention of the public. But with a wide range of issues facing councils across Scotland and priorities differing from ward to ward, heres what you need to know about the Scottish council elections, when they will take place in 2022 and how they work. WebThe next full local elections in East Suffolk will be held on Thursday 4 May 2023. 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].

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