End of the road for the Hartlepool Pravda?

[SRMoore]

Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles proposes a toughening up of rules governing local authority publicity.

The Secretary of State today (8 April 2013) announced his intention to legislate council publicity rules in order to preserve a strong, vibrant and independent local press.

Although required to comply with the 'Code of recommended practice on local authority publicity', brought in by this government, Mr Pickles is seriously concerned about a rogue number of local authorities who continue to flout the rules and abuse taxpayers' money by publishing "political propaganda".

In the broadcast media, regulator Ofcom recently concluded that the London Borough of Tower Hamlets had breached 'The Communications Act 2003', the 'UK Code of Broadcast Advertising' and the 'Code on local authority publicity'. However there are no such restrictions which stop political advertising in print.

The consultation, launched today, is seeking views on how best to frame the new legislation to stop politically contentious advertising campaigns, municipal newspapers and the hiring of lobbyists by councils.

Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles said:

"Some councils are undermining the free press and wasting taxpayers' money which should be spent carefully on the front line services that make a real difference to quality of life. It should not, under any circumstances, be used to fund political propaganda and town hall Pravdas and yet a hardcore minority of councils continue to ignore the rules despite public concern.

"The line in the sand is clear, publicity material straying into propaganda clearly crosses that line, and this legislation will stop this disgraceful misuse of public money, which damages local democracy and threatens an independent, free and vibrant local press."


Taken from: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-law-to-prevent-free-press-facing-state-competition-from-propaganda-on-the-rates