Claims made in campaign material

It is illegal to make or publish any false statement of fact about the personal character or conduct of a candidate. It is also illegal to knowingly publish a false statement of a candidate’s withdrawal at an election, for the purpose of promoting or procuring another candidate’s election success.

Complaints about such possible false statements are a matter for the police. You can report your concerns to the local police force.

The police will not take action against false statements about the policy of a political party or candidate, as these are not covered by any law.

We don't have a role in regulating the content of campaign material. Find out more about our role as a regulator.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) doesn’t regulate claims in ads whose principal function is to influence voters in national, local, regional or international elections or referendums. Read why they don’t regulate political ads.

In some circumstances, where an ad appears in paid-for space and isn’t intended to sway voters, the ASA regulates ads about political issues – for example a proposed airport expansion, placed by an individual, a business, a charity, campaign/interest group or other type of organisation. Its remit doesn’t extend to ‘causes and ideas’ in non-paid for ad space, such as leaflets or websites.

It’s sometimes difficult to work out if an ad is about a political issue, run by government, or part of an election campaign. If in doubt, the ASA recommends that you contact the political party responsible in the first instance to tell them what you think.

If you’re not satisfied with the outcome, then you can make a complaint to the ASA.

Make a complaint to the ASA

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) regulates claims in ads made by local or central government, which aren’t considered to be part of an election or referendum campaigns – for example a health department ‘Stop smoking’ campaign.

Make a complaint to the ASA

The UK Statistics Authority and its executive arm the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) work to promote and safeguard the production and publication of official statistics.

If you are concerned that official statistics may have been misused during the election campaign, you may wish to read their guidance on how official statistics should be used in the run-up to an election, and their interventions policy that helps decide whether they will respond to the misuse of official statistics.

In advance of the 2024 general election, the Chair of the UK Statistics Authority wrote to the leaders of political parties, encouraging them to ensure that:

• statistical claims and statements are based on data to which everyone has equal access
• statistical claims and statements are clearly and transparently defined
• campaigners acknowledge any uncertainties and context that people need to be aware of to realistically interpret statistical claims and statements

Find out more about the role of the UK Statistics Authority and OSR at elections.

Make a complaint to UKSA

Charities in England and Wales have the legal right to engage in campaigning and political activity where this furthers their charitable purposes and is in the best interests of the charity, but they must do so in line with the law. When considering their campaigning material, charities must consider the following important principles:

• a charity must stress its independence and ensure that any involvement it has with political parties is balanced; a charity must not give support or funding to a political party, candidate or politician 
• a charity may give its support to or raise concerns about specific policies advocated by political parties if it would help achieve its charitable purposes as long as it makes clear its independence from any political party 
• trustees must protect their charity and not allow it to be used as a vehicle for the expression of the party-political views of any individual trustee or staff member or by a party or candidate

As the Charity Commission for England and Wales’ guidance states, when taking decisions on activity during the pre-election period, trustees must follow a proper decision-making process, considering the range of options open to them. Charities must take appropriate factors into account, consider only the relevant factors, and make decisions that reasonable trustees would make.

The Charity Commission for England and Wales’ campaigning and political activity guidance sets out in greater detail the rules that charities must follow when undertaking campaigning and political activity.

If a charity is using social media as part of their campaigning activity they should also follow the Charity Commission for England and Wales’ social media guidance.

As charity law is not identical across the UK, there are separate charity regulators in Scotland and in Northern Ireland. Find out more about the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, and about the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.

Make a complaint to the Charity Commission for England and Wales

Political advertising on TV or the radio is not allowed in the UK. This includes ads designed to:

• influence the outcome of elections and referendums 
• promote the interests of a party 
• bring about changes to the law 
• influence public opinion on a matter of public controversy

Instead, political parties are allowed to make party political broadcasts which are not classified as advertising.

If you’re concerned that an ad you’ve seen or heard is political advertising then you can complain to Ofcom. Ofcom can also examine whether TV and radio programmes have adhered to its rules relating to due impartiality and due accuracy.

Make a complaint to Ofcom

Central government

Communication from government departments providing information on a policy typically does not fall under electoral law. This means that it is not regulated.

During a general election, government departments can continue to provide factual explanations of current government policy, statements and decisions.

They must not become involved in a partisan way in election issues. The UK government website has guidance on the conduct of civil servants during an election period.

If you would like to make a complaint against a government department, you would need to contact them directly.

Local government

Similar restrictions apply to communications by local government authorities during the election period. Authorities should not issue any publicity which seeks to influence voters.

The Local Government Association has produced guidance about how councils should communicate during the election campaign.

If you would like to make a complaint against a council, you would need to contact them directly.