Politics Sphere is an independent political analysis blog covering British politics, policy, and public life. These editorial standards explain how we work, what we stand for, and what our readers can expect from us.
We publish these standards publicly because we believe transparency is the foundation of trustworthy political journalism. We hold politicians and institutions to account. It is only right that we are held to account too.
1. INDEPENDENCE
Politics Sphere has no affiliation with any political party, campaign organisation, government department, or commercial interest. We do not accept direction from any party, politician, think tank, or funder about what we write, how we write it, or what positions we take.
We are not Labour; we are not Conservatives; we are not Reform UK, the Green Party, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP, or Plaid Cymru. Our tagline — British politics, seen from every angle — is not a marketing phrase. It is an editorial commitment. We apply the same analytical rigour to every party and every government.
Our founder brings professional experience in public affairs and political analysis. Where that expertise is directly relevant to a topic we are covering — particularly on policy, governance, and political institutions — it informs the depth and quality of the analysis. We believe expertise strengthens political journalism. We are transparent about the basis on which we reach our conclusions, and readers can always see the evidence and sources we have used.
2. ACCURACY
We are committed to accuracy above all else. Every factual claim in a Politics Sphere article is based on a verifiable source. We do not publish claims we cannot substantiate.
Our sources include:
— Polling data from named, reputable polling organisations including YouGov, Ipsos, Survation, More in Common, Norstat, and Electoral Calculus. We always name the polling organisation, the commissioning client where relevant, and the fieldwork dates.
— Legislation and parliamentary records from parliament.uk, legislation.gov.uk, and the official Hansard record.
— Official statistics from the Office for National Statistics, the Electoral Commission, the Local Government Chronicle, Elections Centre, and other authoritative bodies.
— Academic research and think tank analysis, cited by institution and publication.
— Statements by politicians and public figures cited from the public record — parliamentary debates, official press releases, on-the-record media interviews, and verified social media accounts.
We do not use anonymous sources in factual claims. Where we quote or paraphrase a named source, we link to or identify the original record.
We distinguish clearly between fact and analysis. Factual reporting states what happened. Analysis interprets what it means. Readers should always be able to tell which they are reading.
3. CORRECTIONS POLICY
We make mistakes. Every publication does. What matters is how we handle them.
When we publish an error — whether of fact, attribution, or context — we correct it promptly and transparently. We do not quietly delete or alter text without acknowledgement.
Our corrections procedure is:
— We correct the error in the text of the article as soon as we become aware of it.
— We add a correction note at the bottom of the article stating clearly what was wrong and what the correct information is. The note is dated.
— For significant factual errors we will also publish a note at the top of the article directing readers to the correction.
— We do not delete articles that contained errors. We correct them in place so that the correction is visible to anyone who finds the original article.
If you believe we have published an error, please contact us at [email protected] We will investigate and respond within five working days. If we agree an error was made, we will correct it; if we disagree, we will explain why.
We welcome corrections from readers, politicians, organisations, and anyone else who has grounds to dispute something we have published. A correction is not an embarrassment. It is the system working as it should.
4. ANALYSIS AND OPINION
Politics Sphere is primarily an analysis publication, not a news wire. Our articles interpret political developments, examine policies in depth, and offer assessments of what events mean and why they matter.
Analysis involves judgment. Our judgments are informed by evidence, not by political preference. Where we reach a conclusion — about whether a policy is achievable, whether a pledge is credible, whether a result is historically significant — that conclusion is based on the evidence we have cited in the same article.
We do not tell readers how to vote, nor do we endorse political parties or candidates. We analyse all parties using the same methodology and the same standards of scrutiny.
Where an article expresses a view that goes beyond analysis into opinion, we will say so clearly. Opinion pieces are labelled as such.
5. SOURCES AND ATTRIBUTION
We cite our sources. Polling figures are attributed to the organisation that conducted the poll. Legislative analysis references the specific Act or Bill. Statistical claims are sourced to the body that produced them.
Where we use information from other publications, we link to the original source. We do not reproduce substantial portions of other publications’ work, we summarise, attribute, and link.
We do not use information from sources we have reason to believe are unreliable, politically motivated without disclosure, or factually questionable. Where a source has a known political affiliation or commercial interest that is relevant to the information it is providing, we say so.
6. IMPARTIALITY
We cover all political parties and all parts of the United Kingdom. Our coverage of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland is not an afterthought — the devolved nations are central to British political life and are treated as such on this site.
We apply the same analytical standards to every party. We examine Reform UK’s council record with the same rigour we apply to Labour’s government record or the SNP’s Holyrood record. A party’s size or current polling position does not determine the depth of our scrutiny.
We do not give favourable coverage in exchange for access, advertising, or any other consideration.
7. SPONSORED CONTENT AND ADVERTISING
Politics Sphere may carry display advertising. Advertising relationships have no influence on our editorial decisions. Advertisers do not determine what we cover, how we cover it, or what conclusions we reach.
If we ever publish sponsored content — articles paid for by an external organisation — it will be clearly and prominently labelled as sponsored content or paid partnership at the top of the article. Readers will always be able to distinguish between editorial content and paid content.
We do not currently accept payment for coverage, positive reviews, or favourable mentions of any organisation, party, or individual.
8. CONTRIBUTORS
Politics Sphere may publish articles by contributors — writers outside the core editorial team. Contributors write under their own names. Their articles are clearly bylined.
Contributors are selected for their expertise and the quality of their analysis. We do not require contributors to hold any particular political view, but we do require them to meet the same standards of accuracy, sourcing, and transparency that apply to all Politics Sphere content.
The views expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the position of Politics Sphere. This will be stated on contributor articles where relevant.
We do not accept unsolicited paid contributions. If you are interested in contributing to Politics Sphere, please read our Write for Us page before making contact.
9. PRIVACY AND DATA
We handle personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy, available at politicsphere.co.uk/privacy-policy. We do not publish personal information about private individuals without their consent. Public figures — politicians, senior officials, and others who have voluntarily entered public life — are subject to scrutiny of their public roles and public statements.
10. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Politics Sphere uses artificial intelligence tools as part of our research and production process. Where AI tools are used in the drafting or editing of content, the final published article has been reviewed, verified, and edited by a human editor against the same accuracy and sourcing standards that apply to all our work.
We do not publish AI-generated content that has not been reviewed and verified. We do not use AI to fabricate quotes, invent sources, or produce claims that have not been independently verified.
11. COMPLAINTS AND FEEDBACK
If you have a complaint about something we have published — whether about accuracy, fairness, or any other editorial matter — please contact us at via our online form at politicsphere.co.uk/contactus
We will acknowledge your complaint within two working days and respond substantively within ten working days.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may wish to contact the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) if Politics Sphere is a registered member, or the relevant regulatory body for online publications.
We take all complaints seriously. Critical feedback from readers makes us better.
12. REVIEW OF THESE STANDARDS
We review these editorial standards annually and update them when our practices change in ways that are relevant to readers. The date of the last update is shown at the top of this page.
These standards draw on the principles of the Editors’ Code of Practice, the guidelines of the Society of Editors, and the transparency requirements of the UK’s media regulatory framework.
Politics Sphere is committed to being a publication that earns its readers’ trust — not by telling them what they want to hear, but by telling them what the evidence shows.
If we fall short of that commitment, we want to know about it.
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