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. These cookies help make the website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. These elections are different from a UK general election. 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. 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. Local elections The latest date for pre-election period starting for local authority elections is 29 March. You can find more information from the following: Guidelines and restrictions on decision making and publicity during the pre-election period. 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. Continue to plan campaigns post the pre-election period. [1] These will include district councils, unitary authorities, and directly-elected mayors in England, and all local councils in Northern Ireland. The council can still issue media releases on factual matters provided that these do not identify individual councillors or groups of councillors. It refers specifically to the segregation of the sexes and the requirement for women to cover their bodies. However, in doing so, the basic test of whether the visit is for government purposes must be satisfied. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. 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. 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. This event brings together those focused on keeping people well at home and in the community. 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. so this is the returning officer for the Hartlepool elections tomorrow openly endorsing the Tory Mayor & his purdah-breaking announcement today.". 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. The term'heightened sensitivity is also used. With health and care issues high on both the political and public agenda, here are our hints and tips for any communications activity during the pre-election period. Confine your communication activities and announcements to those necessary for the safety and quality of patient care. UKG Ministers will continue to carry out their functions in the usual way. Thursday 25 November Election day. Launch large-scale PR campaigns during this period. 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. WebThe next local elections for Wirral Council will be held on Thursday 4 May 2023. Labour Party incumbent Sadiq Khan is 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. Despite historically seeing a lower turnout and less intensity than general elections, local council elections provide a key chance for members of the public to effect tangible, on the ground change in their local community. On this occasion, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats agreed a Coalition Agreement and ended up in Coalition Government for five years. 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. March 20, 2022 - 12:49 pm. #BensBoondoggles#CrabKiller. 21 Apr 2023 17:58:12 Obviously it's open to interpretation. produce publicity on matters which are politically controversial, make references to individual candidates or parties in press releases, arrange proactive media or events involving candidates, issue photographs which include candidates, supply council photographs or other materials to political group staff unless you have verified that they will not be used for campaigning purposes, continue hosting third party blogs or e-communications. Well send you a link to a feedback form. Dont include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. 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. There should be even-handedness in meeting information requests from the different political parties and campaigning groups. [1] [2] Background [ edit] Put your knowledge to the test in our quiz, If you consider yourself a 'proper Geordie' then see if you can answer these questions correctly, Sunderland must repeat last season's final day heroics to reach play-offs, says Patrick Roberts, Patrick Roberts scored a stunning equaliser against Watford at the weekend, but Sunderland have work to do if they are to make this season's Championship play-offs, Newcastle mum inspired by Dame Deborah James to tackle bowel cancer after being diagnosed aged 36, Emma Campbell, of Forest Hall, was diagnosed with breast cancer aged 36 after ordering a bowel cancer screening kit she'd seen on Facebook. Civil Servants must not answer questions about the potential implementation of party manifestos. Launch new consultations unless essential, promote or publish responses to existing consultations until after the pre-election period. Allow party political meetings to take place on your organisations premises. Each case should be considered on its merits. Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, This website and its associated newspaper are members of Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). The Civil Service (who are required to be politically impartial anyway) monitor and ensure they Purdah is enforced throughout the different Government departments. to ensure that public resources are not used for party political purposes; and. It was quickly deleted. In some cases it may be better to defer an announcement until after the elections, but this would need to be balanced carefully against any implication that deferral could itself influence the political outcome. 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 The pre-election period (formerly known as Purdah (/prd/)) is the period in the United Kingdom between the announcement of an election and the formation of the new elected government. 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. WebThe pre-election period (purdah) is the term used to describe the period between the time an election is announced and the date the election is held. Find out what you need to know about publicity during the pre-election period. What is purdah? This briefing sets out NHS Providers overall position on the Bill and our view on amendments 3 and 4. For example, allowing certain public awareness activities that could be deemed party political, market research and public rallies, and producing election materials or canvassing. Launch large-scale PR campaigns during this period. Su. Elections will also take place to some town and parish councils. It is your decision whether to invite them or not. is issued with care during periods of heightened sensitivity. Who's to say? 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. Westgate Road epitomises the hustle and bustle of Newcastle, but just how clean are the restaurants and takeaways on the city centre staple? Please register or log in to comment on this article. As mayoral and council candidates turn out to canvass, strict rules kick in for civil servants and local government staff. This three-week period began on 14th April 2022 and follows the same fundamental principles as General Election Purdah. 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. 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. 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. annex A template letter to councillors. [15], At the national level, major decisions on policy are postponed until after the pre-election period, unless it is in the national interest to proceed, or a delay would waste public money. The decisions on the use of other Local Authority properties should be for those legally responsible for the premises. 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. 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. Published: 12:23 PM EDT April 28, 2022. The Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (and their junior Ministers) will need to continue to carry out their ministerial duties in the nations concerned. The rules are different for staff in central government and local government. 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. Local elections 2023 - our next scheduled elections are for this council and to elect councillors to all the parishes in the district. 25 March 2021. The Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity is based around seven principles to ensure that all communications activity: This last principle, to ensure special care is taken during periods of heightened sensitivity, is of particular relevance during the pre-election period. Local Government Association company number 11177145, Membership and services for councils and councillors, LGA principal advisers and regional teams, Licences, regulations and trading standards, produced by the National Cyber Security Centre. 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. [1][16], Care during periods of heightened sensitivity. Guidance added for May 2023 local elections. After consultation with their appointing Minister, Special Advisers who wish to take part in the election campaigns may do so in their own time. Further advice on public appointments can be sought from the Cabinet Office Public Appointments Policy team. 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. General Elections in the UK are strictly regulated. Its a double-edged sword: some favoured projects will get kicked into the long grass, never to see the light of day again. 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. publish factual information to counteract misleading, controversial or extreme (for example, racist/sexist) information. This document provides advice on the publicity restrictions that should be observed during the pre-election period. 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. WebThe 2024 London mayoral election will be held on 2 May 2024 to elect the mayor of London, England. Article Summary. The Local Government Association has produced an exhaustive list of what councils definitively cannot do during purdah. Row over post-Brexit cash for Teesside as mayor's funding claim rejected by powerhouse chief. 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. She tweeted: "Riiight. Thursday 21 October 2021 (predicted) Pre-election Period (Purdah) Guidance for PCC Elections May 2021. The elections will take place to elect all of the 66 ward councillors (three councillors in each ward). I had heard of purdah but didnt realise that local elections had a period of heightened sensitivity. 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. We analyse the latest monthly performance data from NHS England and feature a case study from University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. When is the pre-election period? Click 'allow all cookies' if you're happy with this. The rules are different for staff in central government and local government. Labour Party incumbent Sadiq Khan is running for re-election to a third term in office. 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. This guidance does not apply to Local Authorities, who are subject to their own restrictions during the pre-election period. In England, elections will take place to 33 Metropolitan borough councils, 21 Unitary District Councils, and 60 District Councils. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. It is crucial that any decision you take would be seen as fair and reasonable by the public and those standing for office. 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.

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