BILCORGROUP

Group-wide rules

Neutrality and Editorial Policy

How every platform writes questions, counts views and keeps records, so that no side is ever favoured.

1. Purpose

This policy sets out how Bilcor Group and every platform it runs stays neutral. It applies to every question we ask, every result we publish and every record we keep.

2. Who this applies to

This policy applies to Bilcor Group and to all of its platforms, including Common Ground UK, Common Ground Local and Middle Ground Sport, and to any platform added in future. It applies to anyone who works on questions or results, whether employed, contracted or volunteering.

3. We never take sides

  • No platform supports or opposes any political party, candidate, council, club, campaign or cause.
  • We never tell anyone how to vote or what to think.
  • We do not publish opinion pieces or commentary on the results.

4. How questions are written

  • Questions are short and in plain English.
  • Wording must not lead people towards an answer. Loaded or emotive words are not used.
  • Every answer option is shown in the same way, with the same prominence.
  • Where a question is about a real decision, vote or proposal, we show where it came from so anyone can check it.
  • Any organisation may suggest or request a question. The platform checks it is neutral, labels it with who asked for it, and no one can change the wording once it is published.
  • Before a question goes live, a second person checks it against this policy wherever possible.

5. How views are counted

  • One say per person per question, as far as each platform can check. Each platform publishes how it checks and the limits of that check.
  • Every counted view carries equal weight. We do not weight, adjust or filter results to change the outcome.
  • Results are shown as they are, including when most people disagree with a decision.
  • Results are never held back because of how they look. If unusual activity is spotted, the result is still published, with a note explaining it. Answers are never changed.
  • Results come from people who chose to take part. We say so clearly and do not present them as a scientific poll.
  • The only results held back are very small groups, so that nobody's answer can be worked out. An overall result may be shown from the first answer, with the number of answers beside it. Any breakdown, such as by ward, area or group, is not shown until it has at least 10 answers. Each platform may set a higher minimum and publishes the one it uses.

6. Keeping the record

  • When a question closes, its result is locked. A closed question is never reopened. If the same question is asked again, it is a new question linked to the old one.
  • Published results are permanent. They cannot be edited, deleted or replaced.
  • If an error is found, a clear correction note may be added alongside the original record, saying what was wrong and when the note was added. The original result stays unchanged.
  • Results are kept alongside the decision they relate to, so they can be looked back on.
  • Permanence applies to anonymous result totals, not to personal data. If someone asks for their personal data to be deleted, we remove it and the link to their answers, and the anonymous total stays unchanged.
  • The exact technical rules for locking results are set out on each platform.

7. Money and independence

  • Bilcor Group takes no money from any political party.
  • Paying customers, sponsors and advertisers can never change the wording of a question, how it is counted, whether a result is published, or when. Paying customers may receive extra detail, but never different or earlier results than the public.
  • Where a platform carries advertising, it is clearly labelled and kept away from questions and results.
  • Elected representatives, such as MPs and councillors, may pay for services only in their official role, never from party, party group, candidate or campaign funds.
  • From the notice of an election to polling day, platforms do not take new questions requested by an elected representative or candidate for the area concerned.
  • Individual platforms may adopt stricter commercial rules. Where they do, those rules take precedence over this policy.

8. Conflicts of interest

Anyone who writes, checks or publishes questions must tell us about any personal or financial link to the subject, such as party membership, a role at a council or club, or a paid connection. They will then step back from that question.

9. Challenging a question or result

Anyone can tell us they think a question is unfair or a result is wrong. We will look at it under our Complaints Procedure and, if we agree, put it right openly.

10. Review

We review this policy at least once a year, and sooner if anything changes.