May 23, 2024

pre election period – reminder of clarification regarding scientists and media work

This text is taken from a message sent by Fiona Fox to scientists and press officers on 23/05/2024.

Hi everyone,

As a general election has been called, all civil servants and staff working for arm’s length government agencies will go into the pre-election period also frequently known as purdah. This is a well-established convention/rule that prevents government from making major new funding or policy announcements in the run-up to an election that would benefit the party in power. The spirit of the rule is around fairness and to clear the airways to allow us all to focus on the electoral choices before us. It’s a totally sensible and an important part of our democracy.

However, a few years ago a group of us including the SMC, Royal Statistical Society, Sense about Science and the Institute for Government entered into discussions with Sue Gray, who was in charge of pre-election period guidance at the Cabinet Office, to raise joint concern about a steady mission creep which had seen scientists based in universities and research institutes being advised that they could not speak to the media during the pre-election period.

Sue was clear that this was overreach and that purdah was never intended to apply to the day-to-day work of academics. Furthermore, Sue was concerned that some people may be providing what she called ‘guidance on guidance’ which was over interpreting the cabinet office advice and moving away form the core principles.

As a result of these discussions Sue and the Cabinet office made significant changes to reflect the above and agreed that I could communicate these changes to the research community.

The pre-election period guidance for this election has not yet come out,  but below I have pasted the initial changes made in 2018 and the most recent issued this month for the local elections. I will be in touch with the Cabinet office today to check these changes are still in.

Please do share this email widely and make sure that your scientists and communications teams are aware of the advice.  It is not in the public interest for research scientists to restrict themselves from commenting on science in the news in the run up to an election and that is not the intention of purdah guidance. Happy to chat further if people have queries.

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Changes in 2018 guidance:

Statistical and Social Research Activities

16. During the election periods, statistical activities should continue to be conducted in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics and the Pre-release Access to Official Statistics Order 2008 (and/or the equivalent Orders made by the Devolved Administrations in relation to devolved statistics), which should be read as though it is part of that Code. Regular pre-announced statistical releases (e.g. press notices or bulletin publications) will continue to be issued and published. The principles set out here are not about restricting commentary from independent sources, for example academics. It is for individual public bodies to apply this pre-election guidance within their own organisations, but in doing so they should not go beyond the principles set out in this document.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) and other Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs)

21. NDPBs and other ALBs spend public money, make public announcements, use government property and may employ civil servants. It is for individual public bodies to apply this pre-election guidance within their own organisations, but in doing so they should not go beyond the principles set out in this document. Sponsor departments must ensure that staff and board members of their NDPBs and other ALBs are aware of the guidance. Sponsor departments should be consulted in cases of doubt.

Wording in 2024 local election guidance:

Statistical and Social Research Activities

22. During the election period, statistical activities should continue to be conducted in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics and the Pre-release Access to Official Statistics Order 2008 (and / or the equivalent Orders made by the Devolved Administrations in relation to devolved statistics), which should be read as though it is part of that Code. Regular pre-announced statistical releases (for example, press notices or bulletin publications) will continue to be issued and published. The principles set out here are not about restricting commentary from independent sources, for example academics who may also hold public appointments or non-executive roles in government departments or public bodies. It is for individual public bodies to apply this pre-election guidance within their own organisations, but in doing so they should not go beyond the principles set out in this document.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) and other Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs)

29. It is for individual public bodies to apply this pre-election guidance within their own organisations, but in doing so they should not go beyond the principles set out in this document. Sponsor departments must ensure that staff and board members of their NDPBs and other ALBs are aware of the guidance and are applying the principles appropriately. Sponsor departments should be consulted by the NDPB/ALB in cases of doubt.

Cheers

Fiona