Below is the reply from the guy who runs electoral services for Herefordshire; it's clear even he doesn't really understand the score.
Interesting to follow his Standards link & see in passing that the last Labour govt changed the rules so that judges & magistrates no longer have to reveal that they are Masons.
Blighty's just getting more & more democratic by the day, ain't it?
· FW: - Freemasons
From: | |
Sent: | 30 August 2011 12:32:46 |
To: | Jim Miller (leominsterindependent@live.co.uk) |
Mr Miller
Thank you for your recent e-mail.
As usual it is not entirely clear cut, in general the rule seems to be as follows:
Elected Members must Register and Declare an interest as a Freemason if
their membership includes membership of the charitable arm of what would
otherwise be a non-charitable association, i.e. the Grand Charity, unless
they have opted out of such membership.
their membership includes membership of the charitable arm of what would
otherwise be a non-charitable association, i.e. the Grand Charity, unless
they have opted out of such membership.
I have obtained the link below to Standards for England guidance regarding the Code of Conduct which gives further guidance.
It is for each Member individually to make the decision as to if they should declare an interest.
I hope this helps
John Jones
Head of Governance
