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| Labour Corrie star calls banned | Labour Corrie star calls banned |
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| The Labour Party breached privacy regulations by using automated phone calls to nearly 500,000 people, the information commissioner has said. | The Labour Party breached privacy regulations by using automated phone calls to nearly 500,000 people, the information commissioner has said. |
| The party first used the messages, featuring Coronation Street's Vera Duckworth, Liz Dawn, in 2007 without getting the consent of people called. | The party first used the messages, featuring Coronation Street's Vera Duckworth, Liz Dawn, in 2007 without getting the consent of people called. |
| Someone complained and Labour was told to stop using the message - but further complaints were received in 2009. | Someone complained and Labour was told to stop using the message - but further complaints were received in 2009. |
| An enforcement notice has been served on Labour to stop making the calls. | An enforcement notice has been served on Labour to stop making the calls. |
| The commissioner said Labour had breached privacy and electronic communication regulations that ban the use of automated direct marketing calls to anyone who has not consented to receive them. | The commissioner said Labour had breached privacy and electronic communication regulations that ban the use of automated direct marketing calls to anyone who has not consented to receive them. |
| 'Robocalling' | 'Robocalling' |
| Labour has 28 days to appeal - failing to comply with an enforcement notice could lead to a prosecution. | Labour has 28 days to appeal - failing to comply with an enforcement notice could lead to a prosecution. |
| The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party have all had similar notices served over the use of automated phone calls - nicknamed "robocalling" in the US. | The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party have all had similar notices served over the use of automated phone calls - nicknamed "robocalling" in the US. |
| Someone who received a Labour call in July 2007 - the month after Gordon Brown became Prime Minister - complained to the information commissioner. | Someone who received a Labour call in July 2007 - the month after Gordon Brown became Prime Minister - complained to the information commissioner. |
| The fact that the calls were targeted at what were believed to be Labour-supporting areas confirmed our view that they were designed to promote the Labour Party's electoral cause by encouraging Labour supporters to vote David SmithDeputy information commissioner | The fact that the calls were targeted at what were believed to be Labour-supporting areas confirmed our view that they were designed to promote the Labour Party's electoral cause by encouraging Labour supporters to vote David SmithDeputy information commissioner |
| The commissioner warned the party it amounted to direct marketing. Labour agreed to stop making the calls or using the Liz Dawn script, or anything similar. | The commissioner warned the party it amounted to direct marketing. Labour agreed to stop making the calls or using the Liz Dawn script, or anything similar. |
| But in June 2009 more complaints were received - including from the SNP, which had been criticised over its own automated calls using the voice of Sir Sean Connery. | But in June 2009 more complaints were received - including from the SNP, which had been criticised over its own automated calls using the voice of Sir Sean Connery. |
| A recorded message featuring Liz Dawn's voice had again been used, this time to urge about 495,000 people in areas with strong Labour support to vote in local and European elections. | A recorded message featuring Liz Dawn's voice had again been used, this time to urge about 495,000 people in areas with strong Labour support to vote in local and European elections. |
| Deputy information commissioner David Smith said guidance had previously been issued to all the major parties that promoting political parties counted as direct marketing. | Deputy information commissioner David Smith said guidance had previously been issued to all the major parties that promoting political parties counted as direct marketing. |
| He added: "The fact that the calls were targeted at what were believed to be Labour-supporting areas confirmed our view that they were designed to promote the Labour Party's electoral cause by encouraging Labour supporters to vote. | He added: "The fact that the calls were targeted at what were believed to be Labour-supporting areas confirmed our view that they were designed to promote the Labour Party's electoral cause by encouraging Labour supporters to vote. |
| "Automated calls can cause annoyance and disruption which is why it is so important for organisations making such calls to gain the consent of individuals." | "Automated calls can cause annoyance and disruption which is why it is so important for organisations making such calls to gain the consent of individuals." |
| Liz Dawn, a longstanding Labour Party supporter, left Coronation Street in 2008 after 34 years of playing Vera Duckworth, one of the ITV1 soap opera's most popular characters. |