Labour MP David Lammy has been fined £5,000 by the Information Commissioner's Office for making nuisance calls to promote his failed London mayoral campaign. The calls, which played a recorded message urging support, were made to 35,629 people without their permission.
Information Commissioner Christopher Graham stated that the same rules apply to political canvassing as to commercial marketing. 'If you want to call someone in this way, you must follow these rules. Mr Lammy did not, and that is why he has been fined,' he said.
The calls were made in August 2015 using contact details of Labour Party members. However, Mr Lammy failed to carry out additional checks required for automated calls. The watchdog noted that guidance on political campaigning had been published and parties had been reminded of the rules.
Mr Lammy, who came fourth in the Labour mayoral selection contest with 9.4% of first preferences, apologised unreservedly. 'If I had known that additional permission was required to make automated calls then I would have sought it before any calls were made,' he said.
