Overview

This bill proposes the creation of a Political Opinion Polling Regulation Authority to oversee and regulate political opinion polls in the UK. The aim is to ensure accuracy and fairness in polling practices, particularly regarding the publication of polls leading up to elections and referendums.

Description

This bill establishes a Political Opinion Polling Regulation Authority (the Authority). The Secretary of State will create this body after consulting with major political parties. The Authority's responsibilities include:

• Developing rules for political opinion polling, including approved sampling methods and guidance on question wording.
• Regulating the publication of polls, potentially restricting publication periods before elections or referendums.
• Publishing and regularly reviewing these rules and amendments.

The Authority's management board will comprise representatives from polling organizations (nominated by the British Polling Council), political parties, and the media. Breaching the Authority's rules will result in penalties, the amount of which will be specified in regulations. The bill applies to the entire UK and comes into force upon passage.

Government Spending

The bill mandates that the Secretary of State will cover the Authority's expenses, remuneration, and allowances. The exact financial implications are not specified in the bill text but are likely to be significant given the establishment of a new regulatory body.

Groups Affected

• Polling organizations: Will be subject to new regulations and oversight, impacting their operational practices and potentially their costs.
• Political parties: Will have representation on the Authority's board and will be affected by rules governing poll publication timing and content.
• Media outlets: Will be impacted by regulations on poll publication, potentially facing restrictions on when they can publish poll results.
• The public: May see changes in the types of polls conducted and the timing of their release before elections and referendums.

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