We're backing the Fair Play Pledge
Unlock Democracy is backing a new campaign to restore decency, honesty and transparency to our elections. Together with ten other Civil Society Organisations, we’re asking all political parties and candidates to sign up.
Sadiq Khan became the first candidate in the country to sign up to the Fair Play Pledge. The Liberal Democrats become the first party to sign the Fair Play Pledge.
The Fair Play Pledge asks candidates to commit to:
Campaign openly
Financial fair play
Campaign respectfully
Respect privacy
Champion defending and enhancing our democracy if elected
The Pledge, which calls on candidates to campaign with respect and compassion, uphold privacy and champion democracy, follows on from the creation of the successful #StopTheNastiness pledge run by Compassion in Politics during the 2019 general election.
Jackie Weaver, from Cheshire Association of Local Councils, said:“I feel really privileged to be part of your campaign. I think the ethos behind it is hugely important.”
She went on to add: “sometimes we confuse aggression with strength. We have a lot of people who emulate what they see. If they see people who are supposed to be the top echelons of our society behaving in a way that is aggressive, then that surely is what we're all aiming for, because they got to the top doing that.”
All major parties in England, Wales and Scotland - as well as the candidates for Mayor of London - were contacted ahead of the launch and asked to sign up. The Liberal Democrats and Sadiq Khan have already signed up to the pledge. Members of the public can add their name to the call and candidates can directly sign up at fairplaypledge.co.uk
Kyle Taylor, Director of Fair Vote UK, said:“Ahead of the launch, we wrote to every major party in England, Wales and Scotland as well as the candidates for Mayor of London. The Liberal Democrats and Sadiq Khan have signed up already. It is deeply worrying that more did not feel they could agree to these basic, common sense commitments. Election laws haven’t been properly updated in over two decades. Facebook and Twitter didn’t exist then. We know people across the UK want our election rules strengthened to fight the scourge of dark money, foreign interference and rampant disinformation. We must remember that democracy belongs to us, the citizens. Let’s work together to demand better.”
Jennifer Nadel, Co-Director of Compassion in Politics, said:“We cannot have a fair and free democracy if politicians and campaigners are bullied, intimidated and lied about. The stakes couldn’t be higher. It’s time for an end to Punch and Judy politics and a post-pandemic era where we collectively agree to do politics in a way that is compassionate, inclusive and respectful. In the last election candidates who signed the #stopthenastiness pledge - the forerunner to today’s pledge - reported more constructive conversations and less abusive behaviour whether the other candidates had signed it. We can all make a difference and help stop the nastiness. I urge all candidates to sign it now.”
Tom Brake, Director of Unlock Democracy, said:“Signing up to the 'Fair Play Pledge' is an important first step if we want to see a better kind of politics in the UK. We're urging every party leader to commit their party to this principle and to help end the division and negativity that's become such a turn-off for voters.”
Dr Jess Garland, of Electoral Reform Society, said: “This May sees a huge round of elections in Britain – and it’s vital that voters get a clean and honest campaign. As misinformation and unregulated ‘dark ads’ spread across the globe, the public are being left in the dark about who is steering the debate. That means all candidates must step up to the plate, playing fair and being transparent about their funding.
“Our election rules haven’t been updated since the days of dial-up internet, leaving online campaigning an unregulated wild west. Our Democracy in the Dark report – written by two of the UK’s leading election finance academics – revealed a major rise in online spending during the 2019 General Election, with little transparency over how it was used. We also saw reports of misleading campaigning, with campaigns sometimes not who they purported to be. We can’t allow this to continue.
“That’s why we’re urging all candidates to commit to being open and honest in their campaigning this election – and to back reform that will ensure a level playing field of transparency in the future.”