QUESTIONS AS WATCHDOG TAKES 5 YEARS TO ACT

QUESTIONS AS WATCHDOG TAKES 5 YEARS TO ACT

The SNP has questioned why the Information Commissioner had taken 5 years
to act against the Labour party for making automated and unsolicited
promotional phone calls to voters.

The UK Information Commissioner today issued an enforcement notice on the
Labour party for calls featuring Coronation Street actress Liz Dawn, which
were sent to nearly half a million homes in breach of the law.

The London Evening Standard first reported that the use of automated calls
by Labour was under investigation in 2005. Labour were investigated again
in 2007 and in 2009.

The Commissioner’s notice states that Labour promised in 2007 not to make
the calls again, only to do so in the 2009 election.

All other political parties found to have made such calls (the
Conservatives and SNP in 2005 and Lib Dems in 2008), have been issued
immediately with enforcement notices.

Dundee West MSP Joe Fitzpatrick who lodged the complaint in 2009 said:

“I welcome this belated action to protect voters in their homes but there
are real questions to be answered over how the Commissioner has applied
the rules.

“The Information Commissioner must explain why it has taken him five years
to act over dodgy phone calls from Labour but he has not applied the same
restraint to other political parties.

“It is not acceptable for him to have ignored the allegations against
Labour in 2005 and to have relied on a promise of good behaviour in 2007.
It is clear promises of good behaviour from Labour mean nothing.

“Had the Commissioner applied the same enforcement notices that were
applied to other parties for similar acts the 2009 phone calls would never
have happened.

“Labour have been the subject of repeated complaints over their
inappropriate use of telephone calls during election campaigns but it
seems where other parties have faced the law Labour have been allowed to
get away with it.

“The SNP sought guarantees from the Information Commission in 2005 that
all parties would be treated as the SNP were treated however it seems
while the SNP, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats were served enforcement
notices immediately Labour has been allowed an ill fated second chance.

“The Information Commissioner must also explain why these calls were not
stopped immediately rather than allowing half a million people to be
bothered by a desperate Labour party.”