Guidelines
Section 10: Politics, Public Policy and Polls
Reporting UK Political Parties
10.4.1
The UK has diverse political cultures in the different Nations and representation at Westminster is not the only basis for assessing relative political strength in a devolved structure. Achieving due political impartiality, especially for network output, involves giving appropriate coverage to all the main political parties in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as those which stand for election across the whole UK.
10.4.2
Particular care should be taken with the use of language in this context, for example avoiding phrases such as "the two main parties". Specific party labels are normally preferable to general descriptions of "the opposition", except with phrases such as "the official opposition" or "the Leader of the Opposition" which have a formal and specific meaning at Westminster. The descriptions "Shadow Minister" and "Shadow Cabinet" are reserved specifically for the main party of opposition at Westminster.
Guidance
Current section
Section 10: Politics, Public Policy and Polls
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Practices
- Reporting UK Political Parties
- Political Interviews and Contributions
- Parliamentary Broadcasting
- Political Broadcasts
- Elections
- Opinion Polls, Surveys and Votes