Should businesses also adhere to the pre-election period?
PUBLIC SECTORBUSINESS
Abi O'Donovan
4/2/20265 min read
This week is the beginning of the pre-election period (or Purdah) for the public sector ahead of May's elections.
And after last week's reaction from avid fans to Nigel Farage’s visit Ipswich Town Football Club, it got me thinking about whether there are businesses that would benefit from also taking part in pre-election periods.
What happens in the pre-election period?
Well, this can differ depending on:
the type of election (general election vs local elections)
whether a council is involved in the elections and for other public sector organisations, whether the election is happening in their area
the public sector organisation’s own risk analysis of what they deem to be ‘business as usual’
However, as a catch all, the Local Government Association has created a pre-election guide for reference.
Let’s be honest. Politically, communities at the moment are in what the LGA call a period of ‘heightened sensitivity’. Not only this, but there’s a growing minority that are so forceful with their opinions it can sometimes feel like they are the voice of the majority.
Therefore if a business were to show support, in the form of brand association, they are likely to upset a segment of their audience.
So, adopting a pre-election period as part of a political engagement policy, would allow businesses to control the narrative and be very clear on if, and when, they allow political figures to engage with their business.
The LGA state that during the pre-election period councils should ‘‘not publish any material which, in whole or in part, appears to be designed to affect public support for a political party’ (Section 2 of the Local Government Act 1986, as amended in 1988.
They advise that you should not:
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
help with national political visits (as this would involve using public money to support a particular candidate or party). These should be organised by political parties with no cost or resource implications for the council
More details can be found on the LGA website.
What businesses could this be beneficial for?
Definitely large businesses. But it would be worthwhile looking at your stakeholders and reviewing the potential fall out of giving support or associating with a political party or representative.
For example:
Do you have quite a large team and could associations not only make staff question their belonging, but also make it difficult for team members who are on the ground and communicating with your customers?
Do you have a large loyal audience? Could a connection with a political party result in disconnect to those that support you day in, day out? It’s also important to remember, there are those that will hold you to account, but a bigger audience that are a silent majority and will contest their views with their feet and the only time you will see their feedback is the downward trend in sales
Do you have sponsors or a board to report to?
Does your business rely on a solid and stable relationship with the media?
While this sort of pre-election period might not have necessarily saved them from the controversy of last week, maybe I am on to something here. Because as it turns out, the last statement from Ipswich Town on Friday stated that the board would be looking at their policy for engaging with politicians and political parties.
This blog was written by Abi O’Donovan, an award-winning communications and marketing expert with a career that spans the public and private sectors.
This week is the beginning of the pre-election period (or Purdah) for the public sector ahead of May's elections.
And after last week's reaction from avid fans to Nigel Farage’s visit Ipswich Town Football Club, it got me thinking about whether there are businesses that would benefit from also taking part in pre-election periods.
What happens in the pre-election period?
Well, this can differ depending on:
the type of election (general election vs local elections)
whether a council is involved in the elections and for other public sector organisations, whether the election is happening in their area
the public sector organisation’s own risk analysis of what they deem to be ‘business as usual’
However, as a catch all, the Local Government Association has created a pre-election guide for reference.
Let’s be honest. Politically, communities at the moment are in what the LGA call a period of ‘heightened sensitivity’. Not only this, but there’s a growing minority that are so forceful with their opinions it can sometimes feel like they are the voice of the majority.
Therefore if a business were to show support, in the form of brand association, they are likely to upset a segment of their audience.
So, adopting a pre-election period as part of a political engagement policy, would allow businesses to control the narrative and be very clear on if, and when, they allow political figures to engage with their business.
The LGA state that during the pre-election period councils should ‘‘not publish any material which, in whole or in part, appears to be designed to affect public support for a political party’ (Section 2 of the Local Government Act 1986, as amended in 1988.
They advise that you should not:
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
help with national political visits (as this would involve using public money to support a particular candidate or party). These should be organised by political parties with no cost or resource implications for the council
More details can be found on the LGA website.
What businesses could this be beneficial for?
Definitely large businesses. But it would be worthwhile looking at your stakeholders and reviewing the potential fall out of giving support or associating with a political party or representative.
For example:
Do you have quite a large team and could associations not only make staff question their belonging, but also make it difficult for team members who are on the ground and communicating with your customers?
Do you have a large loyal audience? Could a connection with a political party result in disconnect to those that support you day in, day out? It’s also important to remember, there are those that will hold you to account, but a bigger audience that are a silent majority and will contest their views with their feet and the only time you will see their feedback is the downward trend in sales
Do you have sponsors or a board to report to?
Does your business rely on a solid and stable relationship with the media?
While this sort of pre-election period might not have necessarily saved them from the controversy of last week, maybe I am on to something here. Because as it turns out, the last statement from Ipswich Town on Friday stated that the board would be looking at their policy for engaging with politicians and political parties.
This blog was written by Abi O’Donovan, an award-winning communications and marketing expert with a career that spans the public and private sectors.