The UK’s next general election, taking place 4 July 2024, is everywhere – with all eyes on TikTok, as the “first TikTok election”. This means that it is likely being discussed in some of the meetings you attend, in your office & workspaces, and may have an impact, directly or indirectly, on your operations.
If you own or are in a leadership position in any type of organisation, it is important to intentionally choose how you deal with politics.
Politics is a divisive topic, and how you deal with it will depend on your personal and corporate priorities, level of interest, and circumstances. This is not a one-size-fits-all situation – you have options. But if your business has more than one employee, it is important to choose your position and make that clear so that your team understand what is expected.
Your options broadly fall into three categories:
1: Politically Neutral.
You may choose, or even be contractually required to publicly maintain a nonpartisan position, without supporting or criticising specific parties or candidates.
This means that you have to carefully consider how you publicly engage with dialogue around announcements, policies, and individuals that may have political ties. It’s worth noting that you can be politically engaged without undermining your neutrality, it just requires a tempered approach. You can still vote, work on government contracts, and be an active stakeholder that helps influence policy. But, as an individual and a business, your party-political views remain confidential.
If this is the position your business is taking, then you need to be clear about this with your employees, and any restrictions this may place upon them. This could include as social media posts on platforms where they identify their employment information (such as LinkedIn) or how they represent the business while networking or interacting with clients.
2: Politically Aligned.
In the run-up to elections, it is not uncommon for some business leaders or brands to pledge support to a certain party or individual.
Choosing to publicly align yourself and your organisation with a particular political party can be a risky move, but there are some good reasons to do it – whether it is based on values, commercial opportunities or relationships with candidates themselves.
The most obvious examples can be found in the media – the Daily Mail is known to be a “right wing” paper, that supports the Conservative Party in election. But it isn’t just the press who choose sides, Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge has publicly pledged his support for Labour this week. In an interview, he declared himself a lifelong supporter of the party and pointed to key issues for his rationale.
As a business leader, choosing to be politically aligned is never a purely personal choice – it inextricably links your business (or organisation) and may have a direct, or indirect impact as a result. The most basic example is that overt political views can entice (or put off) potential recruits.
Members of your team may not hold the same political view as you. Consider what your position means for your employees, what you (reasonably!) expect of them, and what is not ok.
3: Issue-led Politics.
This is where your public engagement with politics is focused on issues and policies, rather than parties.
Examples of this are everywhere, with charities and businesses publish reactions to policy announcements or statements made by politicians. Again, these could be reactions based on values and moral positions, or relate to commercial activity.
Shelter, national charity known for their work around housing and homelessness, has launched a “Vote For Home” campaign, saying
“If we want a fairer renting system and the social homes we need, we must use our power as voters to force politicians to make ending the housing emergency a top priority at the general election on 4 July.”
Organisations such as RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute) and some of their members often respond to Planning Policy announcements, such as the National Planning Policy Framework unveiled late 2023.
As you’d expect, there are different ways to take this option – you can remain neutral to the party-politics and focus on the issue, or you may choose to use politically charged language or target a specific party or politician.
Regardless of your politics and how you mix them with business, be clear with your workforce. Grey areas and unspoken positions are where employees and brands get themselves into trouble.
Alma 