Reform plc latest
Reform UK defends asking branch officials to sign non-disclosure agreements
"Reform UK asks it branch officials, like chairs, secretaries and treasurers, to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), Genevieve Holl-Allen reveals in a story for the Daily Telegraph.
She says at the last election parliamentary candidates were also asked to sign NDAs. And she says some council candidates have been asked to sign NDAs ahead of the May elections, although the party has indicated that happened by mistake and it says council candidates are not subject to gagging orders.
In her story, Holl-Allen reports:
The practice is unusual – neither the Conservatives, Labour nor the Liberal Democrats use NDAs for branch officials or candidates …
In a copy of the NDA, seen by The Telegraph, branch members are prohibited from divulging private information about the “activities, communication and electoral functions” of the party.
The document terms are drawn up so widely that they could leave individuals open to legal attack for divulging information such as what goes on at private meetings or details of the party leadership
The NDA said it covered all confidential information relating to “all activities, communication, and electoral functions with the intention of using it primarily for the broad purpose of our political, campaigning and fundraising activities”.
In a statement to the party, Reform UK defended the policy. A spokesperson said:
Reform UK are committed to the highest standards of data security. Like any professional organisation, we expect those responsible for managing large amounts of member and candidate personal information to keep it secure"
In this bizarre move, it gives Party directors more power to control a narrative and silence dissent - or revelations to damage an already damaged narrative of an undemocratic "party".
In fact its acting just like the large private company it is trying to force employers to keep "company secrets