In common with all political parties, organisations, companies and in our individual lives, the Labour Party has been working out how we can best deal with the world of social media.

Social media can be a powerful tool for engagement, communication, collaboration and sharing. As with any and all communication within the Labour Party, we think that the way we interact within the party and beyond should be informed by the principles and values and rules of the party.

A new pledge for members has been launched and all new members are obliged to sign up to this pledge.  In addition, the party has designed a code of conduct for social media.

Labour Party Pledge: I pledge to act within the spirit and rules of the Labour Party in my conduct both on and offline, with members and non-members and I stand against all forms of abuse. I understand that if found to be in breach of the Labour Party policy on online and offline abuse, I will be subject to the rules and procedures of the Labour Party.

The key principles of the social media code are below:

Principles for the Labour Party’s use of Social Media

1. We are direct, confident and proud in what we have to say – we speak boldly and with clear intention.

2. We are clear about our position and our policies, and will give our members and supporters the language and tools to disseminate these.

3. Collectivism is at the heart of what we do. Our members and supporters are crucial to all our achievements and their contributions, from door-knocking to online activism, are valued and acknowledged.

4. We seek to break down the wall that creates ‘us’ and ‘them’. When we say ‘we’ that means the whole movement and those who share our values, not an exclusive group.

5. We want debate and discussion to flourish on our channels and will encourage feedback wherever appropriate.

6. We make legitimate criticisms based on policy and political actions, never making personal attacks.

7. We use accessible language and avoid jargon that could exclude or alienate.

8. We put the stories and experiences of the public first. We prioritise the issues that affect people in their everyday lives, rather than providing news for insiders.

9. We are inventive and innovative with our digital strategy and that means experimentation. We need people to be open-minded to change and encourage us to offer the best digital experience possible – even when that means trial and error.

10. We know that not everyone will agree with us. Constructive criticism is welcome, but we want to create a welcoming space for our supporters, so if comments become abusive we will report them.

Labour Party Code of Conduct on Social Media