The Information Commissioner's enforcement notice on the Lib Dems

It all seems a long time ago, but Lex Ferenda provides a link to a PDF copy of the Information Commissioner's enforcement notice on the Liberal Democrats over the party's use of cold calling:

On 18 September 2008 the ICO received a copy of the script used. This confirmed our view that the message primarily promoted Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats. The ICO noted that those called were asked to indicate which party they would support if a general election were held the next day, whether they were thinking of voting Liberal Democrat next time, and whether they were prepared to help the Liberal Democrats win in their area.

After carefully considering the actual script it is the Commissioner’s view that these automated calls were made for the purpose of promoting the Liberal Democrats and would, therefore, be in breach of the Regulations unless they were sent to those who had given consent.

I was very strict about the matter on the New Statesman website. As I say there, the party should now rediscover the themes of our Faceless Britain campaign.