Let me also introduce you to purdah
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purdah_(pre-election_period)#:~:text=Purdah%20(%2F%CB%88p%C9%9C%CB%90rd,of%20the%20new%20elected%20government.
Purdah is the period in the United Kingdom between the announcement of an election and the formation of the new elected government. It affects civil servants, who must be politically impartial, preventing central and local government from making announcements about any new or controversial government initiatives that could be seen to be advantageous to any candidates or parties in the forthcoming election. Purdah does not apply to candidates for political office. Where a court determines that actual advantage has been given to a candidate, this may amount to a breach of Section 2 of the Local Government Act 1986.
Who else does this apply to?
Well... This is what NHS England have to say on the matter.
https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/pre-election-guidance-for-nhs-organisations-general-election-2024/
Key considerations
You should ensure your organisation and staff behave impartially towards all candidates and political parties, and do not influence the election outcomes, whether inadvertently or intentionally.
As always during a pre-election period, there should be:
no new decisions or announcements of policy or strategy;
no decisions on large and/or contentious procurement contracts;
no participation by official NHS representatives in debates and events that may be politically controversial, whether at national or local level.
These restrictions apply in all cases other than where postponement would be detrimental to the effective running of the local NHS, or wasteful of public money.
It then goes on to list the following amongst others:
Media handling: Avoid proactive media work on issues that may be contentious. Reactive lines should be factual and, where possible, in line with previous lines. Any appearances on local or national media (TV, radio) should follow the same principles.
Events: Avoid attending events where you may be asked to respond to questions about policy or on matters of public controversy. This may mean withdrawing from previously agreed engagements.
Visits from prospective parliamentary candidates: Visits are permitted, but the decision to host visits is at your discretion. The same approach must be applied even-handedly to all visit requests from candidates/parties to avoid any question of bias. Any visits should not interfere with the day-to-day running of your service and you should be mindful of patient privacy and dignity.
Social media and web: Nothing contentious should be posted on your website or social media accounts. Updates/posts, including blogs, should only convey essential information.
Campaigns: Do not undertake any ‘paid for’ marketing campaign activity unless you have secured an exemption – for this you will need to demonstrate that the activity is operational and time critical (i.e. a public health emergency).
Existing campaign activity can continue to be delivered through ‘owned’ channels as long as this does not breach the pre-election period guidance.
Marketing: Printed materials, such as posters and leaflets, promoting contentious policy or proposed policy should not be given fresh circulation, but can be retained and issued in small numbers on request. Films and other media produced by the NHS, including the NHS logo, should not be made available for use by candidates/parties.
Staff activism: NHS employees are free to undertake political activism in a personal capacity but should not involve their organisation or create the impression of their organisation’s involvement
Those flags and lanyards need to be in the cupboard as they aren't neutral.
Promoting your pronouns in your NHS work signatures during purdah? Hmmm. Nope.
How about we look at the Department of Education and what this ruling might suggest.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-in-schools
The law
Existing statutory requirements on political impartiality cover all schools, regardless of type or funding arrangement. This includes independent schools.
These legal duties mean schools:
must prohibit the promotion of partisan political views
should take steps to ensure the balanced presentation of opposing views on political issues when they are brought to the attention of pupils
For maintained schools, these legal duties are set out in Section 406 and Section 407 of the Education Act 1996. Most academies will also have a specific clause in their funding agreement which requires adherence to the same provisions
Let's look in more detail at sections 406 and 407
406Political indoctrination.
(1)The [F1local authority], governing body and head teacher shall forbid—
(a)the pursuit of partisan political activities by any of those registered pupils at a maintained school who are junior pupils, and
(b)the promotion of partisan political views—
[F2(i)]in the teaching of any subject in the school [F3(in the case of a school in England), or]
[F4(ii)in the teaching of any aspect of a curriculum provided in the school under the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (in the case of a school in Wales)]
(2)In the case of activities which take place otherwise than on the school premises, subsection (1)(a) applies only where arrangements for junior pupils to take part in the activities are made by—
(a)any member of the school’s staff (in his capacity as such), or
(b)anyone acting on behalf of the school or of a member of the school’s staff (in his capacity as such).
(3)In this section “maintained school” includes [F5a community or foundation special school] established in a hospital
And
407Duty to secure balanced treatment of political issues.
(1)The [F1local authority], governing body and head teacher shall take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that where political issues are brought to the attention of pupils while they are—
(a)in attendance at a maintained school, or
(b)taking part in extra-curricular activities which are provided or organised for registered pupils at the school by or on behalf of the school, they are offered a balanced presentation of opposing views.
(2)In this section “maintained school” includes [F2a community or foundation special school] established in a hospital.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/56/section/406
I believe this is reflected in the updated Statutory Guidelines which 'coincidentally' came out (checks notes) yesterday. (Someone has seen today's ruling coming, if not directly but because there's a clear issue over the subject of gender identity and political bias).
See thread here
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5374160-statutory-guidance-on-rse-and-health-