Starmer’s Party Political Policing Announcement Contradicts Local Election Rules – Guido Fawkes

Starmer’s Party Political Policing Announcement Contradicts Local Election Rules

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Today – Thursday 10 April – the Cabinet Office initiated ‘sensitivity‘ rules for the period prior to local elections, seeing as they are exactly three weeks away. The way the government acts must according to the rules be altered because “the activities of the UK Government could have a bearing on the election campaigns… Care also needs to be taken in relation to the announcement of UK Government decisions which could have a bearing on the elections.”

There are four rules Guido took note of this morning when Starmer and Cooper were up in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire for a new “bobbies on the beat” neighbourhood policing announcement:

1. Civil servants are under an obligation 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. It is important to remember that this applies to online communication, such as social media, in the same way as other activity.
2. In this period, particular care should be taken in respect of proposed visits to areas holding elections. The basic test of whether a visit is for government purposes must be satisfied. Official support must not be given to visits and events with a party political or campaigning purpose.
3. National announcements by the UK Government may also have a particular impact on areas with elections, for example, the publication of policy statements which have a specific local dimension. 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.
4. Government communicators should apply the principles set out above when planning and delivering communications activities that will take place during this period. Additional care should therefore be taken around visits, press, marketing, digital and social media activity concerning local issues.

Starmer made a visit to Huntingdon, in Cambridgeshire, for the announcement. There are two upcoming local elections in that exact location – for the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, and Cambridgeshire’s local election for Huntingdon West. Helpful for Labour…

The announcement was written up and promoted by Labour in a press release, as well as on the party’s social media. It added: “the Prime Minister confirmed that areas such as Derbyshire, Yorkshire, and Somerset are among those that are set to see a surge in officer numbers, in addition to Cambridgeshire Constabulary.” Derbyshire County Council’s elections are on 1 May. East Yorkshire has a mayoral election on 1 May. A party political announcement directly related to local issues during the sensitivity period…

The announcement was promoted by civil servants running Downing Street’s social media as well as by Home Office civil servants. Sticklers for propriety and ethics may take a dim view of Labour’s local caper…