Pre-election publications by HMRC

HMRC has announced via one of their blogs that readers will notice that communication will be much less than normal during the pre-election period which started at midnight on Friday 21 April and the general election on 8 June. These rules have been put in place to ensure the impartiality of the Civil Service. A comprehensive document entitled General election 2017: guidance for civil servants has been published. The Prime Minister has also written to her Ministers advising them of the need to adhere to this guidance and to uphold the impartiality of the Civil Service. The guidance makes it clear that only essential information can be communicated during this period.The guidance applies to communication channels including @GOVUK and @HMRC on Twitter, HMRC blogs and social media channels. The guidance applies to all UK civil servants, and the board members and staff of Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) and other arms’ length bodies.Social media and blogs updating the public with essential factual information such as transport delays can continue to operate but any social media and blogs that comment on government policies and proposals should not be updated for the duration of the election period.