The offending party in this instance is Labour's Twitter Tsar and Labour Candidate Kerry McCarthy. Her potential constituency Bristol East have been opening postal votes as a representative sample. Obviously happy with the results, Kerry decided to post the initial sample findings on her Twitter page. All well and good...and, sadly for her, completely against the law.
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Section 66A of the 2000 amendments to the Representation of the People Act 1983:
“66A. - (1) No person shall, in the case of an election to which this section applies, publish before the poll is closed-
(a) any statement relating to the way in which voters have voted at the election where that statement is (or might reasonably be taken to be) based on information given by voters after they have voted, or
(b) any forecast as to the result of the election which is (or might reasonably be taken to be) based on information so given.
(2) This section applies to-
(a) any parliamentary election; and
(b) any local government election in England or Wales.
(3) If a person acts in contravention of subsection (1) above, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.”
“66A. - (1) No person shall, in the case of an election to which this section applies, publish before the poll is closed-
(a) any statement relating to the way in which voters have voted at the election where that statement is (or might reasonably be taken to be) based on information given by voters after they have voted, or
(b) any forecast as to the result of the election which is (or might reasonably be taken to be) based on information so given.
(2) This section applies to-
(a) any parliamentary election; and
(b) any local government election in England or Wales.
(3) If a person acts in contravention of subsection (1) above, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.”
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She soon realised her mistake, and has since deleted the post. Sadly, as some other candidates have found out, once it's on Twitter, it's on Twitter forever. As I type, the original post is being re-tweeted by every politico on the web, and the initial spoofs are starting to come in.
Not a good day at the office, but surely an honest mistake rather than some kind of typical politician's disregard for the rules, as some are trying to spin it as...
UPDATE - and now the print press are sniffing around, with the Evening Standard's Paul Waugh looking at the story...
UPDATE 16.00 - as Erinath mentions, the offending tweet (with figures) is still up on the @uklabourparty Twitter page. Now that isn't good...
UPDATE 16.16 - I've just seen it on the Damian Thompson's Telegraph blog. This could escalate
UPDATE 16.18 - and now the BBC have it, and online with Sky News...
It's not just Kerry McCarthy, @UKLabourParty have the figures still proudly on display
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