Omar Bennett
Civil servants are expected to be politically impartial and are therefore advised against campaigning for political parties. The Civil Service Code, which sets out the values and behaviours required of civil servants, is enshrined in law. It is integral to uphold public confidence and trust in government communications, and civil servants must carry out their work objectively and without political bias. However, there are certain circumstances in which civil servants are permitted to engage in political activities, and departments have discretion to allow staff to take part in local or national political activities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Civil servants' involvement in political activities | Should not undertake any activity that could call into question their political impartiality |
| Civil servants' involvement in political parties | Should not be a member of a political party as it could lead to bias |
| Civil servants' involvement in election periods | Should not use public resources for party political purposes |
| Civil servants' involvement in publicity | Should not be open to criticism for undertaking publicity for party political purposes |
| Civil servants' involvement in online communications | Should not undertake any online activity that could call into question their political impartiality |
| Civil servants' involvement in ministerial announcements | Should take particular care over official support and the use of public resources for announcements that could have a bearing on matters relevant to the election |
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What You'll Learn
- Civil servants are expected to be impartial and objective
- Civil servants can be members of political parties in most cases
- Civil servants must not use public resources for party political activities
- Civil servants must not undertake any activity that could call their impartiality into question
- Civil servants must follow the Civil Service Code and its values and behaviours
Civil servants are expected to be impartial and objective
The Ministerial Code requires ministers to uphold the impartiality of the Civil Service and not ask civil servants to act in any way that conflicts with the Civil Service Code. Departments and agencies must make clear to staff any restrictions on their participation in political activities. This includes holding office in a party political organisation, speaking in public on matters of political controversy, expressing views on such matters in the press or publications, and canvassing on behalf of a candidate or political party.
Civil servants should be mindful of their conduct during election periods, particularly regarding the use of public resources and official announcements that could impact the election. They must also ensure that their online communications, such as social media activity, do not call into question their political impartiality.
While civil servants are generally prohibited from taking part in political activity, there may be some discretion for departments and agencies to permit staff to participate in local or national political activities. However, permission can be withdrawn at any time without prior notice if circumstances change. It is important for civil servants to understand the boundaries of their involvement in political activities and uphold the values of impartiality and objectivity in their work.
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Civil servants can be members of political parties in most cases
Civil servants are expected to carry out their work without political bias and maintain political impartiality. The Civil Service Code sets out the values and behaviours required of civil servants and is enshrined in law. The Ministerial Code requires ministers to uphold the impartiality of the Civil Service and not to ask civil servants to act in any way that conflicts with the Civil Service Code.
While civil servants are meant to be politically impartial, it is important to note that, in most cases, they can be members of political parties. However, there are restrictions on their participation in political activities. Departments and agencies must inform their staff about any restrictions on their involvement in political activities. Civil servants are prohibited from taking part in political activities such as holding office in a party political organization, speaking publicly on matters of political controversy, expressing views on such matters in the press or publications, and canvassing on behalf of a candidate or political party.
The rules regarding civil servants' involvement in politics can vary depending on the level of government, whether local or national, and the specific position held by the civil servant. For example, civil servants who regularly speak on behalf of the government or interact directly with the public may have different restrictions than those in less public-facing roles.
It is worth noting that departments and agencies have some discretion in permitting staff to participate in political activities and must make clear that permission can be revoked at any time without notice if circumstances change. Civil servants should also be mindful of the potential impact of their political activities on public resources and ensure that their actions do not give rise to criticism of using public resources for party political purposes.
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Civil servants must not use public resources for party political activities
Civil servants are required to carry out their work objectively and without political bias. The Civil Service Code, which is part of the Civil Service Management Code, sets out the values and behaviours that are expected of civil servants. It also defines the boundaries of civil servants' involvement in political activities.
The Ministerial Code requires ministers to uphold the impartiality of the Civil Service. This means that public resources, including property, must not be used to support publicity for constituency work or party political activities. Civil servants must not undertake any activity that could call into question their political impartiality or give rise to the criticism that public resources are being used for party political purposes. This includes online communications, such as social media, as well as other activities.
Departments and agencies must make clear to staff any restrictions on their participation in political activities. Permission to participate in political activities can be granted or revoked at any time without prior notice if circumstances change. It is important to note that the prohibition is on taking part in political activity, so joining a local political club for non-political reasons is usually acceptable.
Overall, civil servants must maintain their political impartiality and avoid using public resources for party political activities to ensure public confidence and trust in the government and its institutions.
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Civil servants must not undertake any activity that could call their impartiality into question
Civil servants are expected to carry out their work without political bias and must not undertake any activity that could call their impartiality into question. The Civil Service Code sets out the values and behaviours required of civil servants and is enshrined in law.
The Ministerial Code requires ministers to uphold the impartiality of the Civil Service and not ask civil servants to act in any way that conflicts with the Civil Service Code. This includes not using public resources, including property, to support publicity for constituency work or party political activities.
Civil servants must therefore be careful not to undertake any activity that could be perceived as politically biased, particularly during election periods. This includes online communications, such as social media, as well as other activities. For example, civil servants should not hold office in a party political organisation, speak in public on matters of political controversy, express views on such matters in the press or other media, or canvass on behalf of a candidate or political party.
Departments and agencies must make clear to staff any restrictions on their participation in political activities. In some cases, permission may be granted for staff to take part in political activities, but this permission can be withdrawn at any time without prior notice if circumstances change.
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Civil servants must follow the Civil Service Code and its values and behaviours
Civil servants are required to follow the Civil Service Code, which sets out the values and behaviours that they must adhere to. The Code is enshrined in law and ensures that civil servants carry out their work objectively and without political bias. It is part of the Civil Service Management Code, which provides the central framework for civil service management.
The Civil Service Code is essential for maintaining public confidence and trust in government communications and institutions. Civil servants are expected to uphold political impartiality and avoid any activities that could be perceived as using public resources for party political purposes. This includes online communications, such as social media interactions, which must be conducted with the same level of political impartiality as other activities.
Departments and agencies must clearly communicate any restrictions on their staff's participation in political activities. Civil servants should not hold office in a party political organisation, speak publicly on controversial political issues, express personal political views in public forums, or canvass on behalf of political candidates or parties. These restrictions apply at both the national and local levels.
Additionally, civil servants who occupy politically sensitive positions, interact regularly with the public, or represent the government in dealings with commercial entities, pressure groups, or overseas governments must be especially mindful of maintaining their political impartiality. Departments and agencies are advised to accommodate staff who wish to engage in political activities while ensuring that they understand the potential limitations on their range of experience.
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Frequently asked questions
Civil servants are meant to be impartial and unbiased. Therefore, they are prohibited from taking part in political activities, including being a member of a political party, as it could compromise their neutrality.
At the national level, political activity includes holding office in a party political organisation, speaking in public on matters of national political controversy, expressing views on such matters in the press or publications, and canvassing on behalf of a candidate or political party.
Yes, departments and agencies have the discretion to permit staff to take part in local or national political activities. However, they must make clear that permission can be withdrawn at any time without notice if circumstances change.
Violating these rules could result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. It is essential to uphold the integrity and trust in public institutions, and civil servants must carry out their work objectively and without political bias.
