Forum Topic

ChiswickW4 and Electoral Law

Broadcasters are not allowed to report details of campaigning or election issues while the polls are open on Thursday for elections in Scotland, Wales and England.They are required by electoral law to adopt a code of practice, ensuring fairness between candidates and that is particularly important on polling day.I guess the front page article on Rupa Huq where she says "Remember to vote Labour every time" is consistent with the ChiswickW4 stand on fairness!

Jim Meddings ● 2000d7 Comments

Chiswick W4 isn't a broadcaster and it hosts a forum where there are a wide range of opinions as to who people should vote for.

Andrew Jones ● 2000d

The forum is of course fine - it is the front page that appears to break the rules. If you read about CW4 you will be made aware that it sees itself as a publisher.

Jim Meddings ● 2000d

Sorry, what rules are being broken?Having looked at the newspaper front pages published on the date of the last General Election in 2019 a lot of them were quite clear on who you should vote for e.g. The Mirror Headline "For Them Vote Labour" and The Sun Headline "Save Brexit Save Britain".Is there something different about the elections today?

Andrew Jones ● 2000d

No rules are being broken. Mr Meddings presumably doesn't like a Labour politician being given a platform but if he scrolls down he'll see that space has also been given to Conservative and Labour councillors.When the site has covered the election editorially it has done so informatively but in a non-partisan way that borders on bland.

Felicity Caborn ● 1999d

Broadcasters have to conform to the Ofcom rules on elections but the same rules don’t apply to publishers of newspapers or sites like this one.

Kerry Chandler ● 1999d

Thanks for the clarification Felicity and Kerry.

Andrew Jones ● 1999d

Your presumption is wrong! I don't like any politicians given a platform on an election day. Kerry is correct though ...

Jim Meddings ● 1999d