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The Society of Editors called for stricter rules on the use of such political material
Tuesday, 26th November 2019, 9:53 pm
The Society of Editors said it appeared to be “a concerted effort” to “mislead readers and voters”.
Ian Murray, executive director of the Society of Editors said: “It is ironic how it is often politicians who complain about fake news but then set out to at least blur the lines for readers – and in this case voters – by packaging their partial messages to ape independent newspapers.”
His comments come after it was revealed that the Liberal Democrats produced election newsletters for their candidates in Basingstoke and Leeds, which used titles mimicking local newspapers.
Defended
However Liberal Democrat leader, Jo Swinson, defended the party’s tactics saying the use of such campaign newspapers was “as old as the hills”.
“Generally we have newspapers going out as one of our campaign types of leaflets and, as I say, it’s kind of as old as the hills,” she said.
“Doing campaign newspapers is not exactly a new campaign tactic, nor one that is only one that is done by the Liberal Democrats,” she said.
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In Basingstoke, the Liberal Democrat publication was titled Mid Hampshire Gazette. The area is already served by the Basingstoke Gazette.
In Leeds, the party’s publication was called the ‘North West Leeds & Wharfedale News’.
Fake news
Mr Murray said: “If political parties were genuine in their desire, often expressed, to both remove the effects of fake news and disinformation as well as support existing regional and local media they would take steps to ensure their political freesheets look markedly different to real newspapers.
He called for “clear, enforceable guidelines on political freesheets of this kind that set out rules against aping existing publications or indeed attempting to pass off as an independent newspaper.
Such campaign material, he added, should have “large, bold typeface” clearly stating which party is funding the publication.
Meanwhile, Ms Swinson has succeeded in stopping the distribution of an SNP leaflet accusing her of accepting a £14,000 donation from “a fracking company”. She asked the Court of Session in Edinburgh to stop the Royal Mail from distributing the leaflet in her East Dunbartonshire constituency.
Judge, Lord Pentland, said a statement on the leaflet was false in substance, materially inaccurate and defamatory. He ordered the SNP and its candidate Amy Callaghan to pay Ms Swinson’s costs.
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