Social media policy

Our local party comprises members and volunteers who help to get action on local issues and challenge decisions we disagree with.

This is something we take seriously, and we are keen to hear from and engage with as many constituents as possible. We do this through surveys and visits, as well as the usual emails, letters, phone calls, casework, and policy queries.

We also use our social media channels to promote the things the Government is doing for the constituency. And we use our social media accounts to celebrate local achievements and to make residents aware of any local, relevant updates.

Our social media channels are:

As a local branch of a major political party, we have a political viewpoint which we know will often generate a response and we recognise that people can hold strong views on local and national politics and their politicians.

We also know that others will have their own views and opinions. We respect this. Even if we don’t agree with someone’s views, it is their right to have a different viewpoint to ours.

We have set out some rules for our local social media channels. These have been designed to ensure that all interactions are compatible with the principles of common courtesy, respect, and good manners.

Sadly, there are some who wish to abuse our social media accounts for their own purposes.

As local volunteers, we have a right to protect ourselves from any threats, harassment, or abuse. Our social media channels are our own platform, owned and managed by members of our team, to express our positions, along with the views and positions of the Government, in addition to communicating with local constituents.

We respond occasionally to comments on our social media channels, but a response is not to be expected. If you are a constituent and need the assistance of your local councillor, you can find their details at www.wirral.gov.uk. Our platforms are not an appropriate place to raise casework issues or matters that need an in-depth response or analysis

The ground rules that we have set for our social media channels are:

The primary aim of our social media accounts is to serve and inform constituents.
Abuse, derogatory comments about an individual, libel and threats of any kind will not be tolerated. Any comments that we feel deem to be in breach of this may be hidden or deleted without prior notice and the account that is posting them may be blocked and reported to the social media companies and to the Police.
Online bullying will lead to an immediate ban
While we welcome feedback, the comments sections of our social media channels are not a platform for opposition activists to post their own political views. As long as they follow the rules that are set by the social media company, they should be able to create their own page or account where they can espouse those views for all to see. Likewise, comments that are intended to deflect or divert attention from the content of the main post may be removed without prior notice. Posters who persist in this activity may be blocked.
Co-ordinated attempts to skew or influence posts, such as voting in online polls by accounts which do not follow our pages, or multiple voting, will lead to blocking.
Opposition Councillors who comment, but who fail to declare their role, will be politely named in response to comments they make in order to provide context for readers.
Please do not use our social media to make allegations, including those of criminal or illegal behaviour, against named individuals or groups. Such comments could be considered libellous and will be deleted. Instead, report these to the relevant authorities.
Spamming is not tolerated. This includes persistent posting of comments across multiple posts or platforms that say the same thing or are unrelated to the original post. These comments will be deleted and the account that is posting them may be blocked without any prior notice.
Advertising of any kind is not permitted and any genuine recommendations of products or services that people make in the comments are the responsibility of the person making the recommendation.
Persistent 'trolling' with negative comments aimed at an individual councillor or volunteer or vexatious comments will lead to the person responsible being blocked from our platforms.
Accounts which appear to have been set up with the sole purpose of any of the above will be blocked.
Social media accounts, including Facebook pages, which are a 'front' for an individual will be blocked
Members who have resigned, been expelled or found to be in breach of the Party's Code of Conduct may also be removed from our social media without notice