Stop using 'absurd' fake newspapers, political parties urge

The Tories came under fire last year after using the name of the defunct Lincoln Chronicle. Photo: BYLINE TIMES

A community of editors has vowed to name and shame political parties using “absurd” fake local newspapers as campaign material.

Political parties producing leaflets using images of local newspapers in their style and headlines , the practice was said to be «offensive to the electorate» as the public vowed a crackdown ahead of the next general election.

It comes after the Lib Dems were criticized earlier this month for distributing material that mimicking local newspapers.

The Conservative Party also faced criticism last year after using the name of the defunct Chronicle of Lincoln in materials distributed in the area, as well as the use of fictitious names as propaganda literature, such as the Chronicles of Stroud, Valley and Vale.

< p>The Society of Editors, which represents newspapers and broadcasters nationally, regionally and locally, on Wednesday called on all political parties not to engage in the practice.

Dawn Alford, chief executive, said: “We have written to representatives all political parties, calling on them to put an end to this mimicry, and promising to name and shame those who continue to try to pull the wool over the eyes of voters.

The fake title «Wokingham Focus» in Berkshire, circulated by the Lib Dems this month, featured a front page layout criticizing local Tory MP Sir John Redwood for his record on fighting sewage.

Seriously disappointed to see this. No political party should produce campaign material that looks like a bona fide local newspaper — it could easily be mistaken for the real thing. pic.twitter.com/NEWM11akcV

— Phil Creighton  (@phil_creighton) January 4, 2024

The leaflet also promoted a feature on local Lib Dem candidate Clive Jones, who was described as «the man tipped to be our next MP.»

Phil Creighton, editor of local newspaper Wokingham Today, shared a photo of the piece and said: » Seriously disappointed to see this. No political party should produce campaign materials that look like a real local newspaper — they can easily be mistaken for the real thing.”

The Liberal Democrats in Sheffield similarly distributed material made to look like a local newspaper called the Hallamshire Herald, which they used to attack the local Labor Party.

Beneath the false headlines of both leaflets was the message in much smaller print that they were produced and paid for by local Liberal Democrats.

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The Electoral Commission, which oversees elections, has no power to regulate the style or design of campaign literature, but by law materials must have a fingerprint with information about who created and financed them.

Ms Alford said: “The editorial community has long campaigned against political parties using fake newspapers to promote their candidates during election periods.

“This absurd practice not only damages democracy and undermines public confidence in both politics and the media, but also insults the electorate, which is not stupid and expects officials and candidates to communicate with them openly and transparently.”

Interesting to see @SheffLibDems @shaffaqmohd going down the Conservative route of distributing newspaper-like campaign materials.

I think the problems with this were nicely highlighted when many (including the Lib Dems) called out the Tories do it… pic.twitter.com/lf5sMunuL6

— Harry Harrison (@harrisonjourno) January 3, 2024

She added: “The media plays a vital role in democracy, and during elections, journalists play an important role in conveying party policies to the public.”

“Instead of wasting huge amounts of time and effort on brazen deception, parties should instead strive to highlight and promote the work of the real local press as a trusted source of news and information to the public.”

A Conservative Party spokesman said: “All election literature has the legally required imprint. This imprint makes it clear that the literature belongs to the Conservative Party. Communicating with voters is standard practice.»

A Lib Dem spokesman said: «Tabloid newspapers are an effective way of communicating with people and have been used by all political parties for many years.

«All our campaign literature , including the tabloids, makes it clear that it comes from the Liberal Democrats.

“Having strong local media is critical to holding those in power to account and we will continue to work closely with great local newspapers across the country «.