Can local authorities correct misinformation issued by extreme parties during an election? Declan O’Dempsey reports
This article considers how local authorities can use their power to promote well-being and their duty to promote race equality to correct factually inaccurate information issued by extreme political parties. Local authorities sometimes worry whether they can correct such information during an election; I argue here that, unquestionably, a local authority not only has a right to do so, but an obligation.
The powers local authorities have in relation to research and information under the Local Government Act 1972 should provide them with the factual information they need to rebut any incorrect information. The Local Government Act 1986 (LGA 1986), s 2 and the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity set out some of the limitations on what they can do in this regard, although these relate principally to the form and content of the material.
A local authority which has a policy to counteract any inaccurate information put out by political parties at any time will be in a strong position if this occurs during
