Overview

This bill proposes the creation of a Political Opinion Polling Regulation Authority to oversee and regulate political opinion polls across the UK. The aim is to standardize polling methods and ensure the responsible publication of poll results, particularly in the lead-up to elections and referendums.

Description

The bill establishes a Political Opinion Polling Regulation Authority (the Authority). This Authority will be responsible for creating rules governing political opinion polling, covering aspects such as:

• Approved sampling methods: Defining acceptable ways to select participants for polls to ensure accuracy and representativeness.
• Question wording guidance: Providing advice on how questions should be phrased to avoid bias and ensure clarity.
• Publication rules: Determining when polls can be published, potentially restricting publication close to elections or referendums to prevent undue influence.

The Authority's management board will include representatives from polling organizations, political parties, and the media. The Secretary of State will be responsible for the Authority's funding and will lay any rules or amendments before Parliament for approval. Breaching the Authority's rules will result in a specified penalty.

Government Spending

The bill mandates that the government will fund the Authority's expenses, remuneration, and allowances. The exact cost is not specified in the bill.

Groups Affected

• Polling organizations: Will be directly regulated by the Authority and must adhere to its rules. Failure to comply could result in penalties.
• Political parties: Will have representation on the Authority's board and will be subject to the rules regarding poll publication timing.
• Media outlets: Will be affected by the rules regarding poll publication, potentially facing restrictions on when they can publish poll results.
• The public: May see changes in the way polls are conducted and reported, potentially leading to more standardized and less potentially biased polling data.

Powered by nyModel