During purdah can the Parish Council, when they are known, produce a list of all people standing for Council?

Question

With the elections coming up this would be useful to know. At the last Parish Council Elections there were a large number of people standing who hadn't stood before and a sheet was produced introducing the 'New Faces'.  We are a non-political Parish council and this was not a political poster in any way but somehow it was seen by some as such and the new councillors were publicly accused of lacking integrity because of it.  I suggested that the Parish Council in the upcoming election could produce a list of all entrants but was told by our Clerk that this is not allowed.

Answer 1

I always love the phrase 'non political parish council', there is nothing to stop anyone being political. However that is an aside.

If there are candidates, I.e. there is an election it is perfectly reasonable to display the official statement of persons nominated, but not anything else.

If they are elected unopposed, then once the election date is past the Clerk can produce a document, if this is a standing procedure - otherwise you have to consider who instructed the Clerk to do it - the old council. I wouldn't want the Clerk to do anything until after the election date and instructed by the new council.

Comments

Should have said 'non- party political Parish Council.' The list of 'persons nominated' would suffice but I believe the clerk thought she couldn't do that.

Answer 2

The Principal Authority issue nomination papers and run the election if contested. They also produce a list of candidates seeking election prior to the election in the public domain. It is quite possible for the Clerk to be unaware of all candidates from the outset if some apply directly to the Principal Authority so it would be unwise.  Purdah is about preventing political parties from gaining favour with the Electorate by making decisions that could be seen as an attempt to garner support and in my view does not apply here.