CONFUSION has sprung up across local councils over a suggested “media blackout” in the run up to the local elections in May.
Councillors have come forward claiming they cannot talk to the media during the six-week pre-election ‘purdah’ period as they may be asked to step down following the local elections or reported to the Standards Board.
Pre-election purdah is described as ‘best practice’ for local councils in the six weeks leading up to an election and is not a legal obligation. The reason for the advice is to warn local authorities such as town and parish councils not to promote their council or its current councillors as this would give unfair advantage over other candidates standing in the local election.
However, some councillors have interpreted this advice to mean that they, as individual councillors, cannot appear in local media.
Furthermore, local town and parish councils that were contacted by White Horse News, said they knew of the pre-election purdah (although others had not) but did not know what the advice is. None of the clerks to the local councils had received advice from Wiltshire Council.
Wiltshire Council says it has only issued advice to cabinet members of Wiltshire Council and not to parish and town councils.
Advice which Wiltshire Council says is applicable includes, “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. Publicity relating to individuals involved directly in the election should not be published by local authorities during this period unless expressly authorised by or under statute. It is permissible for local authorities to publish factual information which identifies the names, wards and parties of candidates at elections.”
