4 Political Activities
Some individuals wish to become involved in political activity and they will be free to do so when it is consistent with the nature of their work for the BBC and the BBC's public service obligations. Political activity is not acceptable if it is likely to compromise the BBC's impartiality or undermine public confidence in the BBC. Judgements about what it acceptable will reflect individual circumstances and advance discussion with managers is vital.
Staff should declare any active political involvement on the Declaration of Personal Interest form. In some cases it will also be appropriate to declare the political activities of close family members.
The Chief Political Adviser is responsible for providing advice to individuals and to Divisions in order to ensure fairness and consistency in dealing with these matters.
4.1 Levels of Political Involvement
Anyone is entitled to be a member of a political party or organisation.
However, active political involvement and commitments can give rise to conflicts of interest for people who are involved in programme making or have any editorial responsibilities in any BBC service, particularly if they deal with political or public policy issues.
Active political involvement can give rise to questions about the impartiality of the individual, the impartiality of the area in which they work and the impartiality of the BBC. Individuals should inform their manager about any political involvement so that it can be fully considered in the light of the guidance below. If individuals or managers have any doubts they can seek advice from the Chief Political Adviser.
There are three general considerations:
- the level of political involvement
- the nature and level of the individual's job
- the extent of involvement in editorial decisions, programme making and/or BBC policy
In any individual case it will be necessary to consider:
- whether they are known to the public or whether their contribution is acknowledged on-air or on-line during the course of a programme or through beginning or end credits
- the level of the individual's political involvement at national or local level:
- being publicly identified as a candidate or prospective candidate for a parliamentary assembly or local authority election; no matter that the date of the election is not confirmed;
- holding office in a party political organisation which impacts on party politics as it affects elected bodies;
- speaking in public on matters of political controversy and matters of controversial public policy;
- expressing views on matters of political controversy and matters of controversial public policy in books, articles, leaflets and letters in the press;
- canvassing on behalf of a political party or candidate for election
- promoting a partisan view on an issue put to local or national referendum
- The nature and level of their work. In some cases, if they wish to maintain their level of political activity, it may be necessary to move them to a less sensitive position
- The type of programme. News and current affairs programmes for international, national, regional and local output are subject to the most stringent tests of impartiality. For more general output considerations will be less stringent but the managers will consider the implications for those in more senior editorial roles, those involved in presentation and those who are or might become known to the public.
4. 2 Elections
Anyone who intends to seek nomination as a candidate for election at national or local level should notify their manager at the earliest opportunity so that the implications can be discussed. They may not be able to undertake high level or high profile programme responsibilities whilst seeking nomination as a candidate.
When an individual has been selected to stand for election at national or local level and becomes a prospective candidate, he or she may not engage in programme work which could be linked to political issues, even if the date for the election has not been confirmed. Prospective candidates campaign actively to obtain support, and as such become the focus of public attention.
An individual who has been selected as a candidate must notify their manager, who will inform the Chief Political Adviser. A list of all BBC prospective candidates will be maintained. Individuals who currently hold an elected position in Local Government at any level must ensure that their manager is notified. The manager will inform the Chief Political Adviser.
When BBC employees stand for election for the European Parliament, the UK Parliament, the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly or the Northern Ireland Assembly unpaid leave of up to six weeks is granted for the period to the election date. The leave is unpaid in order to avoid any suggestion that the BBC is subsidising the individuals' election campaign.
Individuals may stand for local government elections provided there is not a conflict of interest with their programme duties. They will be expected to conduct their campaign activity in their own time and ensure that there is no conflict with their BBC duties. Polling day itself should be taken as unpaid leave.
Presenters and regular contributors who are candidates for elections should not appear in any programmes in their normal programmes roles during election campaigns or when elections they are involved in are imminent. This avoids unfair publicity for them at a critical time. They may of course appear as candidates under the usual election (see BBC Election Guidance)
Outside election periods, the BBC will not discriminate against politically active people on the grounds that they gain publicity from working for the BBC. The appropriateness of a role will be dependent solely on whether there is a conflict of interest with programme making or policy making responsibilities. When an individual is seeking nomination or has been selected as a candidate, but prior to the election campaign, it may be necessary to transfer the person immediately to less sensitive activities. In these circumstances the individual must be placed in gainful employment and not sent home on paid leave. In addition it will be the responsibility of the Director of the relevant Division or their nominee to ensure a suitable alternative substantive job is found within four weeks of the individual being moved to less sensitive work.
If individuals are unsuccessful in seeking nomination or decide not to pursue their candidacy, they may return to their original substantive job. However if an individual's actions in pursuing nomination as a candidate have been such that the BBC's reputation for impartiality could be undermined should they return to their original job, they would continue in a suitable alternative job.
If an individual is elected to the European Parliament, UK Parliament, the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly or Northern Ireland Assembly he / she will be required to resign from the BBC immediately.
If an individual is not elected he/she may return to work immediately but there may have to be an appropriate gap in time before resuming the original substantive job. However if the actions of the individual in seeking election have been such that the BBC's reputation for impartiality could be undermined should they return to their original substantive job, the person may be placed in a less sensitive job (at the same grade and salary). In the event of such a decision becoming necessary there will be full discussion of the issues with the individual concerned and the advice of the Chief Political Adviser will be sought to ensure consistency.
If a family member or close personal contact is standing for election, it is acceptable for an individual to express personal support, but there should be no use of the BBC's name and where support extends to political support the considerations outlined above apply.
4.3 Non-political voluntary public office
This may be acceptable even for editorial people in news programmes. This includes school governorships and being a magistrate. Programme people should be very careful about involving themselves in controversial matters of public policy related to organisations which campaign on political or public policy issues.