a
Compassion
in Politics project
the
Campaign Against
Political Deception
“globally pioneering - an important breakthrough for the health of democracy.”
Kevin Casas-Zamora, CEO
International Institute for Democracy & EA
WHAT IS CAPD?
CAPD is a UK based not-for-profit association of lawyers & legislators.
We convince governments to outlaw political deception with an innovative legal solution.
Dr Sam Fowles
Legal Lead
Jennifer Nadel FRSA
Campaign Lead
Adam Price MS
Legislative Lead
Having convinced the first democracy in history to outlaw political deception we're now working with democracies as far afield as Australia & Brazil.
In Wales, the legislation we developed is in committee and scheduled for the statute books before 2026 (watch the announcement).
Please sign the open letter of support for outlawing dishonest politics.
Just 25 seconds of your time has a massive impact. We've proven politicians will outlaw lies in politics if we have your support.
Sign the Open letter
Dear Members of The Senedd,
We, the undersigned, write to express our profound appreciation for the courage in your commitment to arrest one of the most corrosive elements of contemporary democratic discourse: political deception.
Introducing legislation which holds both candidates and elected representatives accountable for deliberately misleading the public, is a critical step towards restoring trust in our political institutions. The Senedd is demonstrating a cross-party commitment to democratic integrity that goes far beyond mere rhetoric. We applaud you.
The electorate should be able to take for granted that their representatives would never intentionally mislead them. Yet recent polling has revealed that nine out of 10 UK citizens don’t trust politicians (IPSOS Veracity index - Dec 2024). More worryingly, we fear that this low level of trust has become normalised. Trust in a democratic state is fundamental and we therefore praise your leadership in rebuilding public trust. This legislation will be an example to the rest of the UK - and democracies around the world.
You are not just implementing a law, but cultivating a culture of honesty and responsibility by requiring politicians to engage with the electorate through factual, transparent communication. This initiative sends a powerful message that elected representatives are duty-bound to represent their constituents with the highest standards of truthfulness and ethical conduct.
The positive impact of such legislation cannot be overstated. You are trailblazers. In an era where even a few bad actors can rapidly spread misinformation and erode public confidence in democratic processes, your proactive stance is no less than a globally pioneering beacon of hope which protects the fundamental principles of representative democracy.
The Senedd is setting the standard that other legislative bodies should follow. Lying in political fora has become accepted, and although today Wales stands alone in saying it’s time for truth, our hope is future generations around the world will thank you.
On behalf of those who believe in transparent, accountable governance, we extend our heartfelt congratulations and unwavering support for this critically important initiative.
Sincerely,
How the law works
“Trust in politicians has fallen below previous lowest score, recorded after the 2009 expenses crisis.”
Mike Clemence
Co-author IPSOS Veracity Index
A simple mechanism is at the heart of the legislation...
"14 days to clarify, correct or retract a statement of fact if challenged. Or choose to defend it in court"
This not only prevents lies but also makes politicians act honourably instead of fuelling the crisis in public trust.
Across the UK, 91% of people don't trust politicians. In London, it's 97% and for under 24's in London, it's 98%.
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