Time to declare financial interests before election?

Williams interests

Councillors are required to declare publicly their “interests”

 

A residents group in Acomb is apparently asking LibDem candidates to answer a series of questions about their background and post election intentions.

Although some of the answers are already available publicly ( the candidates home address appears on the the list of declared candidates on the Council web site), the answers to others might be of interest to residents.

One novel idea is that candidates should make the legally required “declaration of interests” before the poll take place.

Existing Councilors already are required to list their interests on the Council web site.

So why not candidates? Their financial interests and sponsorship may well influence how electors vote.

It would be something that the new “open data” web site could accommodate?