Consultation outcome

Protecting the Debate: Intimidation, Influence, and Information

• From: Cabinet Office, Chloe Smith and Kevin Foster
• Published: 29 July 2018
• Last updated: 6 May 2019 — See all updates

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Protecting the Debate: Intimidation, Influence and Information.

PDF, 524 KB, 40 pages

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Detail of outcome

We launched the consultation ‘Protecting the Debate: Intimidation, Influence and Information’, to gather feedback on proposals aimed at protecting our electoral system against intimidation and undue influence of candidates, campaigners and voters. With an aim to ‘protect the debate’, the consultation also sought public views on improving transparency in digital election material.

The consultation received a range of responses from many people and I welcome each of the responses to the consultation. This feedback has helped us decide on what steps to take moving forward.

Chloe Smith MP
Minister for the Constitution

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Original consultation

Summary

The Cabinet Office is seeking views on proposed changes to electoral law aimed at improving political debate, and helping electors to make an informed decision at the ballot box.

This consultation ran from
12:15am on 29 July 2018 to 11:45pm on 28 October 2018

Consultation description

We want to know what you think about proposals for changes to electoral law which would seek to improve the political debate and help electors to make an informed decision at the ballot box.

In December 2017, the Committee on Standards in Public Life published its review into ‘Intimidation in Public Life’, which set out 33 recommendations to protect people in public life from the severe level of intimidation and abuse that is now commonplace.

The Committee called upon all those involved in the political debate including the Government, social media companies, political parties, the police, broadcast and print media, MPs and Parliamentary candidates, and voters to work to tackle this issue.

This consultation looks at the following recommendations:

• the Government should consult on the introduction of a new offence in electoral law of intimidating Parliamentary candidates and party campaigners

• the Government should extend electoral law requirements for an imprint on campaigning materials to electronic communications

In our response to the report, we also committed to consult on the need to clarify the electoral offence of undue influence, proposals on which are included in the consultation.

Documents

Protecting the Debate: Intimidation, Influence and Information

PDF, 473 KB, 55 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email accessible.formats@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Published 29 July 2018
Last updated 6 May 2019 + show all updates

1. 6 May 2019

   Added consultation outcome.

2. 23 October 2018

   Extended consultation to 23:45 on 28 October.

3. 29 July 2018

   First published.