The Information Commissioner’s website also states:
“It is a crime for anyone who has a copy of the full register to pass information from this register onto others if they do not have a lawful reason to see it.”
But if I’m just a nosy neighbour, how does the library stop me from seeing it? I wonder if this law is ever enforced. Just in our area in the past few months we’ve had no action on stolen horse troughs and catalytic converters, nor on a speeding car sideswiping another before zooming away through red traffic lights, even though caught on CCTV, registration number reported immediately and independent witnesses giving statements. I’m sure there are a lot worse local examples that the police don’t have time to deal with. So I’d be very surprised if the law surrounding the use of the electoral roll gets policed. And if it were, I’d rather the police gave their attention to crimes like those I listed.
As we’ve seen, the parties are more technically savvy than ever at analysing our behaviour and preferences.
Perhaps non-Labour parties ruled out Lewisham as a borough worth campaigning in — on the basis of data analytics.
Being in a Labour-dominated constituency affected my personal decision to leave Lewisham and move to Tunbridge Wells. If other Conservative voters have left the borough, this will only have entrenched Labour further in Lewisham.
Mary - I’m sorry to hear you feel this way. I can assure you that we are still carrying on with our ward (and town hall) duties during the election. We are still responding to emails and dealing with casework (I’d be interested to know which emails haven’t been acknowledged - please forward them on to me and I will respond), as well as attending ward events (I was there for the lighting of the tree at FH but unfortunately had to rush back to my house so wasn’t able to make it to Kirkdale). You are right to say that, due to purdah restrictions, I (and fellow councillors) haven’t been able to publicise much of the work that we’ve been doing. But we’ll be happy to do so once the election is over. It is true that, as this is largely a volunteer role (most of us also have jobs, and families), additional (political) duties can slow slow us down a bit but we most definitely haven’t “disappeared”.
In terms of canvassing, across Lewisham deptford and Lewisham West and Penge, we have had teams out most days speaking to residents, delivering leaflets and holding street stalls. As councillors, we have been taking part in these sessions, and also using the opportunity to hear about people’s concerns (and pick up casework).
Thanks Sophie. I received (and replied to) your email this morning about pavement parking on Kirkdale. Thank you so much for your interest in finding a way to deal with that. It would be really good to meet when time permits.
[Edit just to add that I’ll sort out and forward some of the emails that I didn’t get a response on when I can access my PC. I’ll just do the ones that are still “live” issues And I really appreciate your posting on here. Thanks.]
I was disgusted to receive a leaflet for the brexit party delivered to my house addressed to me by name but my other half never received one.
really bewildering especially as I have a weird surname and I’m the offspring of immigrants
I must say my reaction upon receiving it was the same as if someone had posted dog poo through my letterbox…or maybe more extreme.
I’m also disappointed but not surprised that some of the political parties who bang on in the most holier than thou way about the “climate emergency” are amongst those who turn out the glossiest, multi page election leaflets. And have the money to pay the Royal Mail (and our poor over burdened posties) to deliver them.
I had such a booklet from Labour and two (TWO!) from the Lib Dems. I also had a mailing from the Brexit Party. None from the Conservatives or (as far as I know) from the Green Party. I didn’t actually read any of them. And that was just me. I don’t know if my husband received any.
The only thing that might have been in any way useful would have been some sort of list as to which parties were standing. As someone else has already pointed out, you usually don’t know till you see the ballot paper. But I’m sure I could have sought out the info online. But was I bovvered? I was not.
None.
I think in my defence that was why I was so damn upset by it.
As the offspring of people who came to this country with nothing as refugees the whole thing of getting a leaflet delivered to me by name from a party that seems to want the UK to stay very anglo saxon ‘English’ really bothered me, like some kind of sick joke tbh.
Especially as my other half registered at the same address didn’t receive one.