Bad public health data suppressed due to election

[flashbac]

FFS

So the indian variant is looking like a major threat*, just as we are looking forward to the ending of all lockdown measures. There are 48 clusters and it's looking a bit worrying in terms of how easily it could spread however leaked emails show:

a staff member at the Department of Health and Social Care wrote: “Data publication [is] to be delayed 24 hours from Thursday to Friday given it is local elections tomorrow."

If true this is beyond disgusting.

If it wasn't bad enough our Navy was used for some election willy waving.

*don't forget india was added to the red list too late as the government didn't want to jeopardise the trade deal.

(Posting in Aibu and not coronavirus as this is about treating us like fools)

It's a legal thing - broadcasters wouldn't be allowed to show the new figures yesterday because they can't show anything that might affect how people vote while the polls are open. By delaying it until today, it can be reported on - so it's actually the exact opposite of trying to hide it.

As pp said above.

Would your vote have been different if you’d heard the news yesterday?

@skirk64

It's a legal thing - broadcasters wouldn't be allowed to show the new figures yesterday because they can't show anything that might affect how people vote while the polls are open. By delaying it until today, it can be reported on - so it's actually the exact opposite of trying to hide it.

I don't think news like that meets the definition of 'purdah'?

This is done frequently. It is also to prevent market crash that bad news is released on a Friday. This stops panic selling, panic voting, etc.

There is nothing illegal about deciding when to release information. We have no rights to any government information. It’s up to them what abd when information is released.

There are rules on the civil service as to when they can and cannot publish things. No announcements can be made in the run to the election that could impact on the outcome. It stops ministers from announcing loads of shiny new things the week before an election so that's what's at the front of voters minds.

So it's not 'beyond disgusting', it's protecting democracy.

I don't see why a 24 hour delay will affect the general public. As long as those in the know behind the scenes are able to act on it. I believe there's already lots of extra testing going on so they haven't delayed action only the release of the news

www.gov.uk/government/publications/election-guidance-for-civil-servants

Hopefully the link works. This info is published by the government

This has always, always happened - as previous posters have said its to stop people voting based on the daily headline - otherwise all the sleeze stories would be saved up.

Also stops local councillors "announcing" Community Centre funding, or other white elephants.

don't forget india was added to the red list too late as the government didn't want to jeopardise the trade deal

It's called balancing the (increasingly small) health risks against the economic interests of the country. Judging by the election results many people think they're doing a decent job.

I doubt many people would have voted differently based on this information. Did it have a major impact on your decision?

Can't say it bothers me too much in any case. It's not particularly concerning news. So we have another variant of concern. There have been and will be many. It is unlikely presently to evade vaccine immunity.

If suppressing news like this is normal why wasn't the willy waving 'gunboat' news in relation to Jersey suppressed?

It’s what suits the Government at the time, and yes “the rule” is a double standard and plain hypocritical. As you rightly point out the farcical story of the Royal Navy racing to protect our seas 🙄🙄 was put out at a convenient moment.

I take it you haven't bothered to read the published guidance I linked to?

Delaying release of information for 24hrs isn’t suppression. Suppression is when the information is already in public domain and the government forces it to be deleted and denies it is true.

@MissyB1 it's hardly convenient to the government to have the difficulties caused by brexit highlighted just before an election

[quote user1471457751]@MissyB1 it's hardly convenient to the government to have the difficulties caused by brexit highlighted just before an election[/quote]
It’s very convenient to remind the public of how the “evil Europeans” can be be put back in their box by the mighty Brits!