Election 'purdah' or the pre-election period - Parliament

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Contents 1 Background 3 2 Guidance for civil servants 3 3 Guidance for local authorities 4 4 Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales 5 2
1 Background The period of time from when an election is announced until after the election is held has been known as ‘purdah’ but is now more often referred to as the pre-election period. Guidance is issued for civil servants before general and local elections, and to local authorities on their activities during the period before local elections. 2 Guidance for civil servants The Cabinet Office issues guidance for civil servants in UK departments on their role and conduct during election campaigns. This is available on the Cabinet office website. 1 On 13 March 2013 guidance was issued for civil servants for the period before the local elections taking place on 2 May 2013. 2 The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General announced the publication of the guidance in a written ministerial statement: Guidance has today been issued to civil servants in UK departments and those working in non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) on the principles that they should observe in relation to the conduct of Government business in the run up to the forthcoming elections to local authorities in England and Wales, and for the directly elected mayors in Doncaster and North Tyneside. These elections will take place on Thursday 2 May 2013. The guidance sets out the need to maintain the political impartiality of the civil service, and the need to ensure that public resources are not used for party political purposes. The period of sensitivity preceding the elections starts on 11 April. Copies of the guidance have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and on the Cabinet Office website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/election-guidance-for-civilservants. 3 The guidance sets out the general principles that should be observed by all civil servants, including special advisers, during this period: a) particular care should be taken over official support, and the use of public resources, including publicity, for Ministerial or official announcements which could have a bearing on matters relevant to the elections. 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 – each case should be considered on its merits; b) care should also be taken in relation to proposed visits; c) 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; d) there should be even-handedness in meeting information requests from the different political parties and campaigning groups. 1 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/election-guidance-for-civil-servants 2 Elections to local authorities in England and Wales and for the mayors of Doncaster and North Tyneside: guidance on conduct, Cabinet Office, 13 March 2013 3 HC Deb 13 March 2013 c12WS 3
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Election 'purdah' or the pre-election period - Parliament

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