RECTIFICATION 1 Contents Summary 2 Mr Mark Spencer MP: Resolution letter 3 Letter from the Commissioner to Ms Alice Grice, 18 April 2017 3 Written evidence 4 5 1. Email from Ms Alice Grice to the Commissioner's Office, 17 February 2017 4 2. Email from the Commissioner's Office to Ms Alice Grice, 17 February 2017 4 3. Letter from Ms Alice Grice to the Commissioner, 20 February 2017 5 4. Letter from the Commissioner to Mr Mark Spencer MP, 28 February 2017 6 5. Letter from the Commissioner to Ms Alice Grice, 28 February 2017 8 10 6. Email from Mr Mark Spencer MP to the Commissioner, 1 March 2017 9 7. Emails from Mr Spencer's parliamentary email account, dated 4 November, 9 December 2016, 13 January, 17 and 24 February 2017, forwarded to the Commissioner by Ms Grice on 2 March 2017 12 8. Letter from the Commissioner to Mr Mark Spencer MP, 7 March 2017 14 15 9. Email from Mr Mark Spencer MP to the Commissioner, 9 March 2017 15 10. Letter from the Commissioner to Mr Mark Spencer MP, 15 March 2017 17 11. Letter from Mr Mark Spencer MP to the Commissioner, 28 March 2017 21 12 Letter from the Commissioner to Mr Mark Spencer MP, 30 March 2017 21 13. Letter from Mr Mark Spencer MP to the Commissioner, 11 April 2017 22 20
Transcript
RECTIFICATION 1
Contents
Summary 2
Mr Mark Spencer MP: Resolution letter 3Letter from the Commissioner to Ms Alice Grice, 18 April 2017 3
Written evidence 451. Email from Ms Alice Grice to the Commissioner's Office, 17 February 2017 42. Email from the Commissioner's Office to Ms Alice Grice, 17 February 2017 43. Letter from Ms Alice Grice to the Commissioner, 20 February 2017 54. Letter from the Commissioner to Mr Mark Spencer MP, 28 February 2017 65. Letter from the Commissioner to Ms Alice Grice, 28 February 2017 8106. Email from Mr Mark Spencer MP to the Commissioner, 1 March 2017 97. Emails from Mr Spencer's parliamentary email account, dated 4 November, 9 December 2016, 13 January, 17 and 24 February 2017, forwarded to the Commissioner by Ms Grice on 2 March 2017 128. Letter from the Commissioner to Mr Mark Spencer MP, 7 March 2017 14159. Email from Mr Mark Spencer MP to the Commissioner, 9 March 2017 1510. Letter from the Commissioner to Mr Mark Spencer MP, 15 March 2017 1711. Letter from Mr Mark Spencer MP to the Commissioner, 28 March 2017 2112 Letter from the Commissioner to Mr Mark Spencer MP, 30 March 2017 2113. Letter from Mr Mark Spencer MP to the Commissioner, 11 April 2017 2220
RECTIFICATION 2
Summary
The allegation I have investigated is that, contrary to the Code of Conduct forMembers,MrMarkSpencerMPusedparliamentaryresourcesinsuchawayastoconferanundueadvantageonapoliticalorganisation.
Theboundarybetweenparliamentaryandpartypoliticalcontent isnotneatlyor5easilydefinedandMembershave,therefore,totakeparticularcarewhenmakinganypartypoliticalreferencesincommunicationsproducedusingHouse‐providedICT and/or distributed via a parliamentary email address. I found a number ofexamples inMrSpencer'se‐newsletters,whichweresent fromhisparliamentaryemail address, of text which were party political in tone. Taken collectively, I10considered them to fall on thewrong side of the boundary. Among thematerialwhich concerned me, I found the e‐newsletters contained hyper‐links to thewebpagesoflocalcouncillorswithovertlypartypoliticalcontent;Ifoundpartisancommentsontheoutcomesofrecentby‐electionsandIfoundexplicitreferencestothe local council elections inMay and, in particular, to the Conservative party's15manifestoforthoseelections.
IncommunicatingmydecisiontoMrSpencer,IunderlinedthatImadenojudgmentabouttheappropriatenessofsuchmaterialinanycontextotherthanwhereHouse‐provided resources are involved. My decision relates specifically to the use ofHouse‐providedITandtheparliamentaryemailaddress.20
MrSpenceracceptedandapologisedforhisbreachoftherules.Heidentifiedthathisteammightbenefit fromfurtherguidanceandmyofficewill liaisewithhistoensurethattheyareofferedplacesonanappropriateworkshop.Iconsideredallofthat,togetherwithMrSpencer'sundertakingtoredoubleeffortstoavoidanothersimilar breach was sufficient to conclude the matter through the rectification25procedure.
RECTIFICATION 3
Mr Mark Spencer MP: Resolution letter
Letter from the Commissioner to Ms Alice Grice, 18 April 2017
Iwrotetoyouon20February2017tosaythatIhadbegunaninquiryintoyourallegation thatMrMark SpencerMP had breached paragraph 15 of the Code ofConductforMembers.5
Having corresponded with Mr Spencer about this matter, I concluded that hise‐newsletter(sentfromhisparliamentaryemailaddress)had,onoccasion,includedmaterialwhichwaspartypolitical,ratherthanparliamentary,intoneandcontent.TherationaleforthatconclusionisexplainedindetailinmylettertoMrSpencerof15March.1Given thatparagraph15of theCodesays thatMembersmaynotuse10"facilitiesandservicesprovidedfromthepublicpurse"to"conferundueadvantageonapoliticalorganisation",Iupheldtheallegation.
MrSpencerhasacceptedmyfindingandapologisedforhisbreachoftherules.Hehascommittedtoredoublingeffortstoavoidbreachingtherulesinthefuture.Myoffice will arrange for members of Mr Spencer's staff to be offered places at a15workshopontheproperuseofHouse‐providedresources.Iconsiderthistobeanappropriate outcome, and have concluded my inquiry under the rectificationproceduremadeavailablethroughStandingOrderNo150oftheHouseofCommons.Thisbringsthemattertoaclose.
1. Email from Ms Alice Grice to the Commissioner's Office, 17 February 2017
I am forwarding theemailbelow toyouas it isoneof several recentmisusesofParliamentary Office by my local MP, Mark Spencer and his office manager,Councillor [name redacted]. As you will see, if you click on the link for more5informationabout theGedlingHousingapplication, the linktakesyouthroughto[the Councillor's] Facebook campaign page for the forthcoming County CouncilelectionsinMay.
There is also a letter in our local newspaper this week, The Hucknall DispatchattackingoneofthecurrentcountyCouncillors. It issignedbyMarkSpencerMP.10However,ifyoulookatthetext,itisexactlythesamewordingasthatusedby[theCouncillor]onhisFacebookcampaignpage.Itisworthnotingthat[theCouncillor]isstandingagainsttheCouncillorwhoissubjecttothisattackinMay.
One example locallymightbeAshfield's smallerhouseholdbins combinedwith theCounty'sregistrationandrestrictionsatrecyclingcentres.I'mpleasecohearthisweekthattheConservativeManifestofortheCountyelectionsthisMaywillincludeaplanto re‐open the HouseWaste Recycling Centres (our local Tips) that the Labouradministrationclosed.ClicktheimageforITV'sreport…."30
2. Email from the Commissioner's Office to Ms Alice Grice, 17 February 2017
Thankyouforyouremail.
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TheCommissionermayinvestigateallegedbreachesoftherulesofconductwhereshe has the name, postal address and signature of the individual making theallegation, together with sufficient evidence to justify her beginning an inquiry.MisuseofITequipmentandsoftwareispotentiallyabreachofoneofthoserules.
3. Letter from Ms Alice Grice to the Commissioner, 20 February 2017
I am writing following my email to your office dated 17 February 2017. In theresponsetothatemail,[yourComplaintsManager]askedforfurtherdetailsandfortheallegationstobeputinwritingandsigned.20
I enclose copies of emails receivedwhich I believe could breach data protectionrules and are examples ofmisuse of parliamentary office bymy localMP,MarkSpencer,andhisofficemanager,Councillor[nameredacted].2Thesedocumentsareasampleandarebynomeansunique.IhavehighlightedintheexamplesbelowhowanMP's newsletter is beingused as a campaigning tool for theNottinghamshire25CountyCouncilelectionsinMay‐where[theCouncillor]isacandidate.
IsignuptomyMP'snewslettertohearhowIambeingrepresentedinParliament.Idonotexpectittobeusedasacampaigningtoolbyhisofficemanager,Councillor[name]. I also paymy taxes and respect that our parliamentarians need staff tosupportthemintheirrole.Idonotpaymytaxfortimeandresourcestobeusedfor30thelocalConservativePartyCountyCouncilelectioncampaign.
2 Copies not reproduced here, see extracts from emails at item 7 below
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4. Letter from the Commissioner to Mr Mark Spencer MP, 28 February 2017
IwouldwelcomeyourhelpwithanallegationIhavereceivedfromMsAliceGriceabout your compliance with paragraph 15 of the House of Commons Code ofConductforMembers.IencloseacopyofMsGrice’sletterandtheenclosuresshesentwithit,aswellasahardcopyofanearlieremailexchangeMsGricehadhad5withmyoffice.
Thescopeofmyinquiry
The scopeofmy inquirywill be, in essence, to establishwhether youhaveusedparliamentaryresourcestoconferanundueadvantageonapoliticalorganisation.
I will not be investigating Ms Grice’s suggestion of a possible breach of data10protectionrules.IwillexplaintoMsGricethatanallegedbreachofsuchrulesmightbeamatterfortheInformationCommissioner.IwillalsoadviseMsGricethatanyconcernsshehasabouttheuseof[theCouncillor's]timewhilehisemploymentisfundedthroughthepublicpursewouldbeamatterforIPSA’sComplianceOfficerinthefirstinstance.15
Therelevantrulesandguidance
Paragraph15oftheCodesaysthat:
“Members are personally responsible and accountable for ensuringthat their use of any expenses, allowances, facilities and servicesprovided from thepublicpurse is inaccordancewith the rules laid20downonthesematters.Membersshallensurethattheiruseofpublicresourcesisalwaysinsupportoftheirparliamentaryduties.Itshouldnotconferanyunduepersonalor financialbenefiton themselvesoranyoneelse,orconferundueadvantageonapoliticalorganisation.
howlinkstotheFacebookpageofa localcouncillor,whoisapparentlyexpecting to be campaigning in the May local elections came to beincluded in a newsletter sent from your parliamentary email [email protected];
whetheryourparliamentaryemail accounthasbeenused todistributesimilar communications in the past with hyperlinks to party politicalwebsitesand,ifso,overwhatperiodoftime;
whatassuranceyoucanprovidethatthoseemployedbyyoudonotuseinformation obtained in the course of supporting your parliamentaryactivitiesforanypurposesotherthanparliamentaryactivities.
I enclose a copy of the Commissioner’s Information Note,3 which sets out the25procedureIfollow.
I will shortly update my parliamentary web pages to show the fact that I amconductinganinquiryintoanallegationintoanallegedbreachofparagraph15oftheCodeofConduct.Myofficewillnotcommentfurtheronanyaspectoftheinquirytothirdparties.(Theywill,however,confirmthatIhavebegunaninquiryifaskedbefore this information is posted onmywebpages and theywill answer factual10questionsabouttheprocessesIfollowandthestandardssystemmoregenerally.)
Asyouwill be aware,my inquiries are conducted inprivate.This letter andanysubsequent correspondence between us is protected by parliamentary privilegeuntilsuchtimeasafinalreportispublished.(Anysuchreportwillincludealltherelevantevidence,includingourcorrespondence.)Iwould,therefore,askthatyou15respectthatconfidentiality.
hardcopieswithout the full internetaddresseswhich laybehind them.) Iwould,therefore,begratefulifyouwouldforwardallofthee‐newsletterswhichyouwouldliketakenintoaccounttomyComplaintsManagerat[addressredacted].
YoursuggestionsthatMrSpencermayhavebreacheddataprotectionrulesandthat[the Councillor] may have engaged in party political activities while employed5through the public purse are notwithin the scope ofmy inquiry. The former ispotentially a matter for the Information Commissioner’s Office and the latter ispotentiallyfortheComplianceOfficerfortheIndependentParliamentaryStandardsAuthority(IPSA).Ifyouhaveevidencetosupporteitherofthosesuggestions,youmightraiseitwiththerelevantorganisationinthefirstinstance.10
IenclosetheCommissioner’sInformationNote,whichsetsouttheprocedureIfollow.IamwritingtoMrSpencertolethimknowthatIhaveopenedthisinquiry.Induecourse,IwillincludeonmyparliamentarywebpagesthefactthatIamconductingan inquiry into these allegations butmy officewill not comment further on anyaspectofthisinquiry.15
Howaretheycomposedandbywhom,andwhatlevelofoversightdoIhave:Theyarecomposedonthesameplatformasmywebsite,andallofthedataisheldthere.MyOfficeManager[name]usuallycomposesthemfollowingdiscussionwith5myself.TheyusuallyconsistofjustacollationofthepoststhathavebeenputoutonmyFacebookpagethatweek,andthereforeitissomethingthatwediscussdaily.If[the OfficeManager]wants to add anything that has not appeared on FacebookduringtheweekthenwediscussthatontheFridaypriortotheemailbeingsentoutthatafternoon.10
Are theyproducedonHoCequipment:They are sometimesproducedonHoCequipment, and sometimesonaprivate computer as the system isbasedonline,dependingonwherewehappentobeworkingatthattime.Sometimeswedothemfromhome,orfromotherplacesifwehappentobebasedthereforameetingorsimilar.15
How links to local Councillorspages came to appear: I regularly work withCouncillors during my Parliamentary duties, including Cllr [name]. Where aparticularCouncillorhasbeendealingwithanissuedirectlythatthenappearsinmynewsletter,Iconsideritsensibletodirectresidentswhowishtoengagewiththatissue with the right representative who is dealing with it. If I work with other20CouncillorsthathaveactiveFacebookpagesIalsolinktothem,suchasbelow:
Thepages are not Campaignpages but long‐standing local newspages of sittingCouncillors.[ThisCouncillor's]goesback3or4yearsIbelieveandhashistoricallyalways been a ‘Councillor’ pagewith the appropriate page title as opposed to a‘Campaign’page,suchas‘[name]forHucknallNorth’.Ihaveinfactjustlastweek
4 Not reproduced here
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hadconversationswithsomeoftheseCouncillorswhohappentobestandingintheforthcomingelections, to say that if the contentof theirpages should start tobeaboutcampaigningratherthanbeinglocalissuepagesthenIwillnolongerbeabletopost links. Iregularlycheckthisbeforepostinganythingandhavingspokento[the Councillor] at that time he informedme thatwould be changing his profile5picture,etc.onFacebooktomentiontheCountyelectionsasofyesterday(Feb28th),andthereforeIwouldnotlinktothatpagenowthatthedynamichaschanged,norofcoursewouldIdosoduringpurdahregardlessofthecontent.Councillor[name]isasawareoftherulesasmeandvolunteeredthisinformationtomelastweektoensurethatwedidnotpostanything inappropriatenowthathehaschangedthe10focusofhispage.
Do I consider that this would confer an undue advantage on a politicalorganisation:NoIdonot.Noneofthelinksareintendedaspartypoliticalposts,theyarelinkstothepagesofsittinglocalrepresentativesinordertolinkresidentsdirectlywiththeirCouncillor,whoIbelievetobetherightpointofcontactforthem15on an issue. I have nevermentioned elections inmy comments regarding theseCouncillors,norhaveIaskedanyonetovoteforthem.
Assurancesthatmystaffdonotmis‐usethisdata:Therewouldbenobenefitwhatsoever to my staff using this data for anything other than the newsletter25becauseas localCouncillors theyalreadyhaveaccess to theConservativeParty’sdata,whichiskeptcentrallyinLondon,andcontainsfarmoreusefulinformationthatmyParliamentarydatabaseeverwill.Mydataissimplyalistofemailaddresseswithnoattachedpersonaldetailsorpostaladdressesetc,veryfewentriesevenhavenames associated with them, which would be of no use whatsoever for any30campaigningpurpose.
I trust that answersyourquestions fully,pleasedo letmeknow if youhaveanyfurtherqueriesandofcoursekeepmeuptodatewithyourprogress.
"Last night Ashfield's Council made some fantastic decisions for local residents.ConservativeLeader[hyperlinktoCouncillor'sFacebookpage]putforwardplanstosupportresidentsinBestwoodandPapplewickwhichwereagreedunanimously(morebelow),andtheyalsoagreedtohisamendmentwhichwillseeCouncillorshavingtosubmittofullDBSchecksforthefirsttime,andtopayforthemoutoftheirownpocket.10Allverypositive!
Howeverfollowingthecompletionofthemainbusinessofthemeeting,IndependentandLabourCouncillorsstartedaparty‐politicalslangingmatchtotallyunfitforthatkindofpublic forum,which lead to theConservativeGroup leaving themeeting indisgust.Iknowthatmycolleaguesaresimplynotinterestedinthepettysquabbling15thathasbeenanissueatAshfieldforalongtime…."
And
"YesterdayIgotupat5.30(whichisactuallyalieinformeasI'mnormallyupat4toget out on the farm) to get over to Sleaford before work, in order to supportConservative colleagues to get Dr Caroline Johnson elected to Parliament. I'm20delightedattheresoundingvictorywhich isahugeboost forTheresaMayandthisGovernment,whilstLabourslippedbackintofourthplacebehindbothUKIPandtheLibDems.ItseemsasthoughtheyarebecomingincreasinglyirrelevanthereintheEastMidlands."
"ItisgoodtohearthattheweightofpublicpressuremeansEdgewoodhasastayofexecution.ADChavedelayedthedecisiontoclosethecentrewhilstthey investigate5whethertheycanmovealloftheswimmingprovisiontoHucknall.IftheyfindtheycanaccommodatethoselessonsthenEdgewoodwillstillfacethechopinthefuture…butconveniently they won't have to announce it until after May's County Councilelections."
Extract from the email of 17 February 2017: Item headed "Gedling Housing10discussionongoingatInspector'sHearings"
"YoumaybeawarethatduringFebandMarchGedlingBorough'sLocalPlanisbeingheardbyan IndependentPlanning Inspector to see if it'sable togo forward.ThataffectsfuturehousingdevelopmentsacrossthewholeoftheGedlingBorougharea.ThemostcontroversialaspectisaroundplanstobuildrightontheborderwithAshfield,15effectivelyextending the townofHucknall,without support from local residentsorAshfield District Council. We also believe that some plans might be in directcontravention of a previous ruling by Planning Inspectors, so myself and localConservativeCouncillorswill speakagainst thoseproposalsat thehearings.MOREDETAILSHERE[hyperlinktoCouncillor'sFacebookpage‐seebelow]…."20
The Councillor's Facebook page contained the following material posted on15February2017:
Iwillconsidercarefullythe informationprovidedinyouremail.However,beforedoing so, Iwouldbe grateful for your comments (bearing inmind thequestionsraisedinmyletterof28February)onthisfurtherevidence.
Iwouldbeinterestedinyourassessmentofwhetheranyofthesecommunicationsmight reasonably be thought to confer, or to be seeking to confer, an undue25advantageonapoliticalorganisation.Itwouldbeparticularlyhelpfultohaveyourviewsonthefollowingspecifically:
The tone and content of the post on [the Councillor's] Facebook pagedated15February,wherehementions specifically theparticipation ofLabourcouncillorsindiscussionofGedling’s“LocalPlan”andreferstothe30CountyCouncilelectionsinMay;
— On17February:referencetothecouncil’swastedisposalpolicyand35welcoming the Conservative Manifesto for the County councilelections;
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— Inclusionofapictureofanotherlocalcouncillorinthenewsletterof13JanuaryandanitemabouttheEdgewoodLeisureCentre,whichincludes the following “If [the council] find that they canaccommodate those lessonsEdgewoodwill still face the chop in thefuture…but conveniently theywon’thave toannounce ituntilafter5May’sCountyCouncilelections”;
— On 9 December 2016: an article in which reference is made to a“slangingmatch”allegedstartedbyothercouncillors“whichledtotheConservativeGroupleavingthemeetingindisgust”;anitemabouttheoutcomeoftheSleafordby‐election;andattheendofthenewsletter,10a statement of how many more doctors there are looking afterpatientsinEastMidlands“thanunderLabour”.
As youwill appreciate, the question ofwhether such phrasingmight be seen asattemptingtoconferadvantageonisat thecruxoftheallegationsIaminquiringinto.IhavenotyetreachedadecisiononthismatterandwillnotdosountilIhave15consideredyourcomments.
Itwouldbehelpfultohaveareplyby21March2017.
7March2017
9. Email from Mr Mark Spencer MP to the Commissioner, 9 March 2017
Thetoneof[theCouncillor's]FBpost,dated15thFebruary–Ihaveseenintheenclosedscreen‐shotsyousentthatthecommentsabovethepictureinthispostareobviouslypartypolitical.IntruthIhadnotseenthatandhadintendedonlytolinktothenon‐partisaninformationcontainedwithinthemaincontentofthepost(the25image). I do not know whether those comments were there at the time of mynewsletterornot,thoughIdidnotseethematthetimeandobviouslyIcannothelpifthatinformationhasbeenaddedsubsequently,butasIhavesaiditwasnotmyintentiontolinktothatpartofthecontent.
The section about Councillor [name] follows many months of concertedcampaigningforanewsetoftrafficlightsbyasittingCouncilloranditisrighttogivecreditwhereitisdue.Aspermypreviousemailresponsesfollowingyourfirstletter,
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Icannotimaginehowthiscouldbeseenasunfairly influencingelectionswhenitwaspostedseveralmonthspriortoanyelectionsandwellbeforetheaverage‘manon the street’ is thinking about such things, and when it does not mention anyelectionswithinit.IsimplycongratulatedalocalCouncilloronachievingsomethingthatIhadbeendiscussingandpushingforoverseveralmonths.5
Re the comments on Councilwaste disposal – This was a topical commentfollowing an ITV investigation that aired the previous night. I did not randomlycriticisetheCounciloutoftheblue,butwascommentingoncriticismmadeontheITVCentralnewsprogramme.InlightofthisnewssegmentitnaturallylinkedtothepolicyproposalbytheConservativeGroup,andwithitbeingalmostthreemonths10priortoanyelectionsIdidnotfeeltheywererelevant.IndeeditisnotuntilyourlettersmadethepointthatMrsGricehadconsideredthistobelinkedtoelectionsthat I had even made the connection. As a sitting Labour Councillor I can onlycommentthatperhapssheismoresensitivetosuchthingsthantheaverageperson,whoinmyexperienceisnotevenconsideringelectionsevennow,nevermindin15mid‐February.
ReincludingCllr[name]–IcannotseehowsimplymentioningthatImetwithaCouncilloronanissuecouldbeconstruedinanykindofpartisanway.Iwasinvitedby[him]todiscussanissue,Imetwithhim,andmynewsletterupdatesresidentsonwhat Ihavebeendoing so tome it is anobvious anuncontroversial thing to20include.
ReEdgewoodLeisureCentre–IhavebeencampaigningtosaveEdgewoodLeisureCentrefromclosureformanymonthsandwascommentingonthepositivenewsthattheCouncilwerenotimmediatelygoingtocloseit,howeverIwantedtomakeitcleartoresidentsandcampaignersthatitwasnotyetsafeinthelongterm.The25commentthatitwas‘convenientlydelayeduntilafterelections’wasapointmadeduringadebateon the issue in theCouncilChamber,and it isa factuallycorrectstatementthatitwasdelayed.Idonotmentionpartypoliticsatall,andthoughitmaybeconstruedasbeing‘anti‐Council’IthinkthatitishardtoavoidappearingthatwaywhenIhavebeenactivelycampaigningagainstthatCouncilpolicyfora30longtime.IalsothinkthatscrutinyofLocalGovernmentisapartofmyroleasanMP,andisverydifferentandseparatetopartypolitics.
Re9thDecember‘slangingmatch’,Sleafordand‘underLabour’–The‘positivedecision’thatwastakenwasdirectlylinkedtomeandmyoffice,inthatIhavebeencampaigningforchangestolocalGovernmentboundariesthatinmymindhavea35negative impact on services for residents. Therefore it is entirely natural that Iwouldmentionapositivestepforwardonthisissueinmynewsletter.The‘slangingmatch’ is a matter of public record and voice recordings of it are available forresidents to confirm – if you listen you will no doubt find that is an accuratedescription.ItisfactuallycorrectandverifiablebythatrecordingthatConservative40Councillorsdidnotspeakortakepartintheargument,andthattheyleftthemeetingat that point. The conduct of Ashfield District Councillors is a matter of publicinterestfollowingdamningLGAreportslocallythatcalledthema‘basketcase’and‘notfitforpurpose’.Thiswasfrontpagenewsacoupleofyearsagoandproblems
It has never beenmy intention to be party political inmy newsletter, though Iappreciate that perhaps one or two of my comments could in hind‐sight beconstruedinthatway.ThereasoningIhavelaidout inanswertoyourquestionsshowswhyIfeltIwaswithintherules,andhindsightisawonderfulthing.Whether20deemedtobepartypoliticalornot,IremainadamantthatIhaveneverdeliberatelyactedorintendedtoinfluencetheelectionresultsinMayandasIpointedoutinmyprevious reply toyouwehadalready taken thedecision to stopmentioningand‘tagging’CouncillorsfromtheendofFeb(priortoyourletter)preciselybecausewedidnotwanttobeaccusedofthatkindofinfluence.25
Following our correspondencewe have concludedwemay benefit from furtherguidancesohavemadeenquiriesabouttrainingcourses.Somethingwehopetotakeupintheverynearfuture.
Asyouwillappreciate,whenconsideringanallegationofthiskind,itisappropriatetotakeintoaccountnotonlyspecificinstanceswherethelanguageand/orimageryusedisallegedtobepartypoliticalinnaturebutalsotoconsiderthetoneand‘feel’ofthecommunicationsasawhole.Theoccasionalreferencetoapoliticalparty(forinstance)wouldnotautomaticallyleadtotheconclusionthataletteroremailshould5not have been sent using House‐provided resources but the omission of partypoliticalreferenceswouldnotitselfbesufficienttoavoidabreachofparagraph15oftheCodeofConduct.ItisalsoimportanttonotethattheCodeofConductdoesnotprohibitonlythe“partypoliticalcampaigningorfundraising”mentionedintheICTUnacceptableUse Policy; it encompasses any usewhichwould or is intended to10“conferundueadvantageonapoliticalorganisation.”
Havingconsideredverycarefullyyourresponsestomyletterof9Marchaboute‐newslettersdistributedbetweenNovember2016andtheendofFebruary2017,Ihave concluded that your use of House‐provided IT to produce and circulate e‐newslettershasputyouinbreachofparagraph15oftheCodeofConduct.15
Therationaleformydecision
ThenewslettersIhavereadcontainamixtureofparliamentaryandparty‐politicalcontent. The boundary between parliamentary and party political content is notneatlyor easilydefinedandMembersdo, therefore,need to takeparticular carewhen includinganypartypoliticalreferences incommunicationsproducedusing20House‐providedICTand/[email protected], I consider these newsletters fall on the wrong side of theparliamentary/party political boundary.While my decision rests primarily on aconsiderationofthenewsletterscollectively,IhopeitishelpfultocommentoneachofthespecificexamplesIaskedyoutoconsider.25
You say that the material I identified on [the Councillor's] Facebook was partypolitical. I agree. The post in question was dated 15 February and there was ahyperlink to it inyoure‐newsletterdated27February.ThematerialwasstillonFacebookon3March.Onthatbasis,Ithinkitisreasonabletoconcludethatitwouldhave been found by readers following the hyperlink in your newsletter of3027February.Inotethatyouwerenotpersonallyawareofthepartypoliticalcontentat the timeand I accept that itwasnotyour intention to link to thatpartof thecontent.Nonetheless,itwasaninappropriateuseofHouse‐providedresources.
Yousaythatyourreferencetotheoutcomeoftwoby‐electionswas“simplyshar[ingyour] personal view”. Read in context, I do not think that personal view can be35distinguishedfrompartypoliticalcontent.Whilesomeofthetextmightwellreflectthe assessments made by non‐partisan observers, the newsletter refers to theoutcomeinStokeas“positive”andtheoveralltoneoftheitemispartisan.
Idonotdoubtthatthefly‐tippingreferencewastopicalbutthetoneofthisitemisalso party political, with a direct and unambiguous reference both to the local40ConservativePartyManifestoandtotheMayelections.IthinkthisspecificreferencetotheforthcomingelectionsunderminesyourrebuttalofMsGrice’ssuggestion,as
ThereferencetoCouncillor[name],giventheabsenceofanyvalue‐basedcommentsabouthimandyourmeetingwithhim,wouldnotinitselfbeaconcern.However,I5think it is relevant thatmeetingswith local councillors feature regularly in yournewsletters and all the councillorsmentioned are, as far as I am able to verify,membersofyourownpoliticalparty.Thecopyisintended,Ithink,toreflectwellonapoliticalorganisation,andsotheuseofHouse‐providedresourcesinthiswaymayconferanundueadvantageonapoliticalorganisation.10
Your explanation of your long‐standing involvement in the campaign to “saveEdgewoodLeisureCentrefromclosure”provideshelpfulcontextandIacceptyourassurance that the wording is factually accurate. However, the words “…butconvenientlytheywon’thavetoannounce it[theclosure]untilafterMay’sCountyCouncilelections”areclearlymakingapartypoliticalpoint.15
Ihaveconsideredthenewsletterof9December2016inparticularintermsofitsoveralltoneandcontent.Thereareseveralovertpartypoliticalreferences,themostobviousofwhichistheexpressionofdelightatthe“resoundingvictorywhich isahugeboost forTheresaMayand thisGovernment,whilstLabourslippedback in tofourthplacebehindbothUKIPandtheLibDems.Itseemsasthoughtheyarebecoming20increasinglyirrelevanttoresidentshereandItheEastMidlands.”
Asthecouncilelectionsdrawcloser,theboundarybetweenparliamentaryandpartypoliticalcontentmaybecomeincreasinglydifficulttonavigateandIwelcomeyourdecisiontoceaseincludinghyperlinkstomaterialpostedbylocalcouncillorsintherun‐up to the local elections. As the council elections draw closer, the boundary25between parliamentary and party political content might become increasinglydifficulttonavigate.However,Ithinkitisimportanttorecognisethatthisboundaryneedsattentionatalltimes,notonlyduringformalcampaignperiods.
Ihopethispointbypointanalysisishelpful.However,IalsohopethatitdoesnotgivetheimpressionthatIammakinganyjudgementabouttheappropriatenessof30the material in any context other than where House‐provided resources areinvolved.MydecisionrelatesspecificallytotheuseofHouse‐providedITandtheparliamentaryemailaddress.
Ineednowtoconsiderhowbesttoresolvethismatter.Ifyouweretoacceptmydecision,withyouragreement,Iwouldbereadytoconsiderresolvingthismatterthrough the rectification procedure. Under StandingOrderNo 150, I am able torectify a complaint in these circumstanceswithout submitting a full and formal
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memorandum to the Committee on Standards. I would instead write to thecomplainant, following which the matter would be closed. I would inform theCommittee of the outcome and my letter to the complainant and the relevantcorrespondencewould,induecourse,bepublishedonmywebpages.
Imay implement the rectificationprocedure,only ifyouaccept thatyouwere in5breachoftheCodeofConduct.TheCommitteewouldnormallyexpecttheMembertohaveapologisedinwritingandtohavetakenanystepsIrecommendtorectifythebreach.Itwouldalsobehelpfultohaveacommitmenttoavoidarecurrence.
Yousayattheendofyouremailthatyouhavealreadyidentifiedthepossibilitythatattendance by your staff at one of the routine workshops on the use of House‐20resourceswouldbebeneficial.IwillaskmyPAtocontact[yourofficemanager]tomakethearrangementsshortly.
I am grateful to you for the information youprovided in your first email (dated1March)aboutsomeofthewiderissues.Inparticular,Iwelcomeyourassurancethat the database for your newsletter is populated through an active “sign‐up”25processandthatitisusedonlyforthatpurpose.Asyoumaybeaware,theautomaticinclusion of the email addresses of thosewho contact your parliamentary emailaddressmightbeacauseforconcern.
I also welcome the assurance that you have personal oversight of the materialposted inyoure‐newsletters.Asyouknow,paragraph15of theCodeofConduct30makesclearthatMembersare“personallyresponsibleandaccountable”forensuringthattheiruseofpubliclyfundedresourcesisinaccordancewiththerules.
11. Letter from Mr Mark Spencer MP to the Commissioner, 28 March 2017
Iamwritinginresponsetoyourletterof15March2017.
I would like to start by thanking you for the time you took to investigate thecomplaintwhichwasmadeagainstmyoffice,andkeepingmeinformedthroughout5the process. Having carefully studied the informationwhich you set out in yourletter tome, Ihavedecidedthat Iwillaccept thedecisionwhichyouhavemade,withoutappeal.
Inaccordancewiththecontentofyourletter,Iamkeentorectifythesituationandtakestepstopreventitfromhappeningagain.Inthisvein,Iamhappythatyouhave10indicated you will contact my office manager, [name redacted], to organise hisattendanceatoneoftheroutineworkshopsontheuseofHouseresources.
12 Letter from the Commissioner to Mr Mark Spencer MP, 30 March 2017
Thank you for your letter of 28March 2017 confirming your acceptance of my20findingconcerningMsGrice’sallegationthatyouhadbreachedparagraph15oftheCodeofConductforMembersandagreeingtomyproposaltoconcludethisinquirybywayoftherectificationprocedure
I would then write to Ms Grice as outlined, post the enclosed material on mywebpages and notify the Committee on Standards briefly of the outcome. Thatwouldbringthemattertoaclose.Untilthen,thismatterremainsconfidential.5
I am clear, as ismy office, that the unintended breach of theMembers' Code ofConductwasregrettableandassuchIofferanunreservedapologyforthisoversight.
Iwould like torepeatmygratitude toyouand to theCommittee forkeepingmeinformedthroughouttheprocess,andforprovidingguidanceofmyofficetoavoidinadvertentlybreachingtheCodeinthefuture.15
