Expressing political opinions

Policies may refer to expressing political views. For example, BBC guidance on social networking states that editorial staff and staff in politically sensitive areas should never indicate a political allegiance on social networking sites, either through profile information or through joining political groups. This applies regardless of whether or not they indicate that they are employed by the BBC.

Acas policy also states that staff should not indicate a political allegiance in the course of using social networking sites and this is emphasised even more strongly if they identify where they work.

Civil servants have to abide by the Civil Service Code which covers standards of behaviour expected of civil servants and this applies to their use of social media. This covers expressing political opinions that would compromise their impartiality.

One rep responding to the LRD survey reported that a member was involved in disciplinary action for expressing a political opinion on social media following the general election, even though he considered himself to be doing this in a private capacity, as he posted from home and did not identify his employer.