Tuesday, 28 January 2014 00:20
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Working Committee ratifies policy to ensure all party members stay on message
Public statements against party positions no longer permissible
Parliament speaking time to be slashed if MPs violate party messaging
Warnings, disciplinary action against those who breach party policy
By Dharisha Bastians
The UNP Working Committee yesterday unanimously endorsed the party’s new guidelines on political messaging and communications, in a bid to ensure its entire membership will speak to reflect the party’s values and policy positions.
The move is part of a sweeping reforms process undertaken following the setting up of the Leadership Council, chaired by Karu Jayasuriya to set the party on course following years of internal rifts. The new policy framework based on UNP values will seek to prevent ad hoc policy making by individuals either by accident or design.
Reading out the new guidelines at the party’s Working Committee meeting at Sirikotha last evening, UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said the Opposition Whip would ensure all UNP Parliamentarians stay on message within Parliament.
“This is to ensure that all parliamentarians will adhere to the fundamental core principles and policies of the Party,” he said. Wickremesinghe said according to the new guidelines, if MPs fail to toe the party line, steps will be taken to reduce speaking allocations for errant MPs and if the conduct continues, such individuals will be summoned before the Leadership Council for explanation.
In light of recent events, the opposition party has also decided to get tough on MPs who take contrary positions with regard to a party position on one or many media organisations.
“If the Party Leadership (Leadership Council) makes a decision to react against unfair treatment meted out to the UNP by a specific media organisation or individual it is to be recognised as a conscious policy decision by the Party,” the guidelines for elected representatives said.
“It will be considered a serious breach of party discipline to be found defending the relevant organisations or individuals in Parliament or at Provincial or Local Council level as has been the practice recently,” Wickremesinghe noted.
Speaking to the Daily FT, Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya said the guidelines were necessary at this juncture since the Council was also making attempts to build bridges and resolve previously existing conflicts between party members and the leadership.
“Of course it cannot be a one sided process. While we try to promote unity, it is also necessary to bring about some discipline. All party members must see these new processes as an opportunity to move forward and realise the urgent necessity to present a united front,” Jayasuriya said. The Leadership Council Chairman added that every word uttered by UNP members that seemed to go against the party policy, caused irreparable damage to the UNP brand. “These guidelines are extremely necessary at this point,” he said.
