Plan to ban political stalls at events after festival row
There is a call for a ban after controversy
Plans to ban political party stalls from council-run community events have been put forward following recent controversy.
The leader of Fareham Borough Council, Cllr Simon Martin, said he would seek to introduce a “short policy” prohibiting all party-political stands at events organised by the authority’s leisure and community team.
He said the move was aimed at maintaining political neutrality at borough events, which are typically promoted as community-focused and feature Fareham organisations, performers and markets.
The announcement was made at the start of the full council meeting on Wednesday, July 22 and follows news that Reform was asked not to attend a community event which had a ban all political parties.
Cllr Martin said: “There has been some local comment in the press and on social media recently about the presence of political stands at community events.
“Many of these events are run by voluntary and fundraising organisations, and it’s for them to determine their policies and who should be permitted to have a stall.
“The leisure and community team produce a number of events throughout the year.
“These are described as community events across the town centre. Promotional materials will typically identify community organisations, activity performers, markets and partners rather than party political stands.
“In order to ensure political neutrality, I will be seeking to adopt a short policy prohibiting all party political stands at council-run community events.”
He added that the proposed policy would apply to all political parties, “whether currently active in Fareham or not”.
However, exemptions would be made for non-partisan democratic engagement.
Cllr Martin added: “This includes electoral registration, voter ID and how to vote, which will be permitted if considered necessary.”
The announcement follows a dispute linked to a popular event in Warsash at the start of July. This was not a council-run event.
Members of Reform Hamble Valley said their booking for an exhibition stall at Warsash Festival on July 4 had been cancelled at the “last minute”.
Josh Read, chair of the branch, criticised the move and said it is “difficult to argue that politics has no place there” as the deputy mayor of Fareham was in attendance in a civic capacity.
The festival is organised by Locks Heath Rotary Club, which said the decision was consistent with its long-standing position.
A spokesperson said the group is a non-political organisation and does not permit any political party to exhibit at its events.