Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Election Guidance

Thursday 20 July 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Electoral Commission regularly publishes guidance for political parties, candidates, and non-party campaigners.
  • The Electoral Commission does not regulate political or news programmes; Ofcom handles broadcaster regulation and impartiality guidance.
  • The Electoral Commission would be happy to meet with Members of Parliament to discuss issues related to television programmes.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kevin Brennan Lab
Democracy & Elections
Context

The Electoral Commission regularly issues guidance to political parties and candidates. A new trend of Members having TV programmes has emerged.

Question

Whether the Electoral Commission has issued recent guidance on elections to political parties and candidates.

Answer from Owen Thompson

The commission regularly publishes guidance for political parties, candidates and non-party campaigners. It recently submitted draft statutory guidance on digital imprints and a draft code of practice for non-party campaigners for ministerial and parliamentary approval.

Answered
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Q2 Kevin Brennan Lab
Democracy & Elections
Context

Members of this House are being given their own TV programmes on news channels, interviewing Government members before a general election.

Question

Is the commission preparing any guidance about this new trend we have of Members of this House, who may be candidates at the next election, being given their own TV programmes on some of the new news channels and interviewing members of the Government from their own Benches in the lead-up to a general election? What is the Electoral Commission doing about that?

Answer from Owen Thompson

The Committee has not discussed those matters with the commission as yet. The Electoral Commission does not have a role in regulating political or news programmes; Ofcom regulates broadcasters and provides guidance on impartiality.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commission's lack of direct regulatory role over TV programmes for MPs

How: The Electoral Commission Does Not Have A Role In The Regulation Of Political Or News Programmes

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Q3 Barry Sheerman Lab
Parliamentary Procedure
Context

Members are invited to participate on TV programmes and this raises questions about campaign regulations.

Question

Will the commission look closely at the fact that Members of this House have television programmes? I was invited on to a television programme by two Members of this House, and I did not accept that invitation. There is surely something wrong with Members in this House asking questions at the same time as they are running very political campaigns on television. What will the hon. Gentleman do about that?

Answer from Owen Thompson

The point is well made; however, the Committee has not discussed this matter with the commission. If the hon. Member for Huddersfield wanted to discuss further, the commission would be happy to meet him.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commission's lack of direct regulatory role over TV programmes for MPs

How: The Committee Has Not Discussed This Matter With The Commission

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