Who is Advising Rutland County Councillors To Be Dishonest? Editing Twitter Blogs and Social Media To Give An Untrue Impression of the Councillor
Cllr Alan Walters exercising his right of reply has contacted me.
(please note Cllr Gene Plews if anyone contacts me politely they get a right of reply
the comment you made at a recent council meeting is untrue)
Cllr Walters message:
"Thank you for your online comment forwarded to me recently.
Advice on best practice during purdah was to edit blogs and
twitter feeds, and leave a note to this effect in case a follower
finds a tweet or post has been edited to meet the rules and
guidance. I trust this answers your query. Kind regards. Alan.
Personal I don't understand this advice if a councillor has published something
on any media why should they need to delete or edit during the election
period?
I believe the guidance only applies to Councillor if they are using
council property or equipment.
Another council say
This guidance is designed to ensure that council resources and facilities
are not perceived by the public to have been used for election campaigning
or political purposes during the purdah period and
that the political impartiality of employees has been maintained.
The guidance I have seen does not apply to Councillors personal
activities.
I can only assume Cllr Walters has been using Council owned computers
and phones to tweet and blog about politics.
Something rules forbid outside purdah.
Cllr Alan Walters exercising his right of reply has contacted me.
(please note Cllr Gene Plews if anyone contacts me politely they get a right of reply
the comment you made at a recent council meeting is untrue)
Cllr Walters message:
"Thank you for your online comment forwarded to me recently.
Advice on best practice during purdah was to edit blogs and
twitter feeds, and leave a note to this effect in case a follower
finds a tweet or post has been edited to meet the rules and
guidance. I trust this answers your query. Kind regards. Alan.
Tweets have been edited for the duration of the election. Normal service will resume thereafter.
— Alan Walters (@onecouncillor) March 19, 2015
Personal I don't understand this advice if a councillor has published something
on any media why should they need to delete or edit during the election
period?
I believe the guidance only applies to Councillor if they are using
council property or equipment.
Another council say
This guidance is designed to ensure that council resources and facilities
are not perceived by the public to have been used for election campaigning
or political purposes during the purdah period and
that the political impartiality of employees has been maintained.
The guidance I have seen does not apply to Councillors personal
activities.
I can only assume Cllr Walters has been using Council owned computers
and phones to tweet and blog about politics.
Something rules forbid outside purdah.
