Pre-election period of sensitivity

The pre‑election period of sensitivity is the time before an election or referendum when governments, ministers and civil servants avoid making announcements or decisions that could influence the campaign. It is also known as the period of heightened sensitivity and was previously referred to as ‘purdah’. The exact period depends on the type of election.

The pre-election period for the UK and devolved governments and their civil servants is not set out in law but is governed by conventions. There are no sanctions for any perceived breach of the pre-election period guidance by ministers.

Backbench and opposition MPs are not constrained by the pre-election period of sensitivity. However, elected representatives and candidates must ensure they abide by campaign finance and election law during an election period.

Local authorities have their own set of rules that are set out in statutory guidance (see below).

When is it for elections in 2026?

The pre-election period for elections taking place in 2026 are:

• 16 April to 7 May for local elections in England
• 26 March 2026 for Scottish Parliament elections
• 8 April for Senedd Cymru elections when the Senedd is formally dissolved

UK Parliament general elections

There is no set date for the beginning of the pre-election period of sensitivity for general elections. The pre-election period for UK Government civil servants for the 2024 general election (PDF) started at 00:01 on 25 May 2024.

What is the guidance? Ministers

Ministers remain in office and in charge of their departments during an election. It is customary for them to observe discretion in announcing initiatives that are new or of a long-term character in their capacity as a minister.

The general principle is outlined in the UK Government Ministerial Code of Conduct. Ministers should ensure that government resources are not used for party political purposes. Similar codes exist for ministers in the devolved governments: Scottish Ministers, Welsh Ministers and Northern Ireland Ministers.

Civil servants

The UK Government issues guidance for its civil servants to follow during pre-election periods. Devolved governments issue their own guidance. Guidance for UK Government civil servants for the 2026 English local elections was published on 2 March 2026.

For the 2024 general election, the UK Government guidance was issued on 23 May 2024. Scottish Government guidance and Northern Ireland Executive guidance were published on 24 May. Welsh Government guidance was published on the 3 June.

These are based on the Civil Service Code, which outlines the values and standards of behaviour that civil servants are expected to follow. Each government has its own civil service code: UK Government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government, Northern Ireland Executive.

Local government

Local authorities in Great Britain are required to follow statutory guidance about publicity all year round. The election period is referred to as the period of 'heightened sensitivity’.

The Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity (England) requires that, among other things, local council communications should not use public funds to mount publicity campaigns that seek to influence voters at any time of year. Similar codes operate in Scotland and Wales.

Publicity should be issued with care during periods of heightened sensitivity. During this time use of council resources, holding events or launching consultations should also be considered. There is no blanket ban, and the ordinary functions of councils can continue, but councils should assess whether it could be perceived that they are spending public money to influence the outcome of the election.

The Local Government Association produces guidance for local authorities, A short guide to publicity during the pre-election period.

Referendums

The period before national referendums is regulated by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. Central and local government are prohibited from publishing material that aims to influence voters to vote one way or another in the 28 calendar days before polling day.

Pre-election period or ‘purdah’?

The term ‘purdah’ is still used by some to describe the pre-election period. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the word ‘purdah’ derives from Urdu and Persian, meaning ‘curtain’, and has been in extended use to refer to secrecy or seclusion in general.

The term ‘purdah’ is also used to describe a system of secluding women from sections of society in parts of south Asia in both Hindu and Muslim communities. Some find it offensive to use a word referring to the segregation of women from men to describe a civil service practice; the word ‘purdah’ is generally no longer used to describe the pre-election period.