Code of Conduct for Heritage Party Candidates

Code of Conduct for Heritage Party Candidates

1. As a Heritage Party candidate, you are a public representative of the Party, and your actions and words will come under much greater scrutiny than an ordinary member. What you say and do reflects upon the party, the leader, party spokesmen/spokeswomen, and other candidates. Candidates are expected to act at all times in a manner which reflects positively upon the Party, both in their personal and professional life.

2. A candidate’s comments or actions in public, online or in the public domain should not be a cause of public misunderstanding of the Party or embarrassment to the Party.

3. Candidates should ensure that their conduct does not bring the Party into disrepute. Actions which may bring the party into disrepute include, but are not limited to:

  • Libel or defamation.
  • Abuse, bullying or harassment of another person, whether within or outside of the Heritage Party.
  • Engagement in criminal activity.
  • Conduct or behaviour which is incompatible with the principles of the Heritage Party ‘Manifesto for Social Conservatism’.

4. Candidates should not make public criticism of the Party, its leadership team, its manifesto, other candidates or its decisions. Public criticism shall be deemed to include posts on social networking sites.

5. The Heritage Party believes in free speech, but candidates are public representatives of the Party. Candidates should not make public statements which contradict party policy or misrepresent the policies of the Party.

6. Candidates should be aware that, by virtue of their position, there is the possibility that statements made by them in a personal capacity might be misrepresented and associated with the Party. If candidates make a statement of personal opinion which is contrary to the Party position, they should make it clear that it is their personal position and not the Party position.

7. Candidates must not assist other parties or candidates who are standing against the Heritage Party. This includes:

acting as an agent for anyone standing against an official Heritage Party candidate at any public election;

Campaigning for anyone standing against an official Heritage Party candidate at any public election;

Publicly repudiating an official Heritage Party candidate at any public election, or

Otherwise assisting the campaign of any person or political party against the Heritage Party or any official Heritage Party candidate once selected for a public election

8. Candidates who do not abide by sections 1 to 7 above may be deselected as a candidate.

Rules governing the conduct of Heritage Party elected members

1. All elected members are expected to act at all times in a manner which reflects positively upon the Party, both in their personal and professional life. Elected members are expected to be aware that by virtue of their elected position, their actions are subject to greater public scrutiny and that therefore poor behaviour can damage the Party or bring it into disrepute.

2. Elected members should not make public statements which contradict Party policy.

3. Elected members should refrain from public criticism of other Party members.

4. Elected members are expected to make themselves available for media interviews, including at short notice and unsociable hours.

5. Elected members are expected to remain as paid-up members of the Heritage Party for the remainder of their term of office. In addition, elected members shall remain on the United Kingdom electoral register. A failure so to remain may be considered when reselection is being considered and may amount to a disciplinary matter.

6. Elected members of the Heritage Party are expected to vote to implement Heritage Party policies contained in the party manifesto.

7. Heritage Party councillors may join with independent councillors or residents’ associations if this permits sufficient representation to form a Group or gain representation under the cabinet system in a local authority. The Board may over-rule this in specific instances where it believes that membership of a specific Group could harm the Party.

8. All Heritage Party elected representatives must inform the Board immediately of any internal investigation made against them, and of any criminal investigation or court case pending.

9. Candidates who do not abide by rules 1 to 8 above may lose the party whip and/or be subject to disciplinary proceedings.

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