Clean Campaign Pledge Text

The Clean Campaign Pledge, states:

“We, the undersigned, pledge in the Reading West general election campaign:

To show by our actions that politics need not be a dirty game, but can be a clean and positive activity, engaged in genuinely for the good of all.

To tell the truth about what we have achieved and stand for and about what others have achieved and stand for.

To refrain from making personal attacks against, or misleading statements about, other candidates in written literature or verbally.

Not to mislead the public about who is doing well and about who is likely to win in these elections.

To make only honest and reasonable promises.

To fight a clean, positive and honest campaign around the issues that concern the people of Reading West.

In particular, to be honest about public spending, and not to scaremonger in ways that may frighten the most vulnerable members of our society, such as children and elderly people.

To take money only from organisations and individuals whose motives in giving us money we do not have reason to suspect.”

Alok Sharma, the Conservative candidate for Reading West, said: "Voters are completely turned off by personal attacks and negative campaigning and I very much hope we will have a positive election campaign with the focus on policy issues. Whilst we are about it, it would be helpful if every political party in Reading stuck to explaining its own policies rather than trying to invent policies for other parties!"

Adrian Windisch, standing for the Greens in Reading West commented: "We have seen a decline in voter turnout and people have lost trust in politicians. One way to gain it back is to talk about policies not personalities. I hope every politician can sign up to a clean campaign."

Reading West Liberal Democrat candidate and Redlands ward councillor Daisy Benson said: “Trust in politicians is at an all time low so it’s really important we set an example – I’m happy to support this pledge.”