What is the UK election purdah and why the Persian name?

The UK general election will take place on Thursday, which will decide the next government for up to the next five years.

During the elections, the country enters a period known as purdah, limiting the speech of civil servants regarding political issues.

We look at the origins of the word and what purdah means for the UK.

What is purdah?

The 'pre-election period of sensitivity', better known as purdah, is when government resources cannot be used for political purposes, a measure intended to ensure the governing party does not have an unfair advantage over the opposition.

Government officials and civil servants are expected to exercise extreme caution regarding public statements or decisions that might affect the election, during a period also known as 'heightened sensitivity'. 

When elections are announced, parliament is dissolved but ministers continue to govern and are expected to "observe caution" including no major new policy initiatives or decisions until the election ends.

Backbenchers and the opposition, who are not government officials, can campaign as normal.

There are no official sanctions for breaking purdah but convention usually prevents major breaches.

Where does the word come from?

Dictionary.com describes purdah as "the seclusion of women from the sight of men or strangers, practised by some Muslims and Hindus" or "a screen, curtain, or veil used for this purpose".

According to the online dictionary, the word entered the English language between 1790-1800 from Hindi or Urdu, which originates from the Persian word 'purdah', meaning 'curtain'.

The idea is that civil servants and government officials are segregated from party politics during the election period, although ministers are still allowed to campaign in their constituencies to retain their seats.

Has purdah been breached?

Purdah is rarely breached by ministers or civil servants, but one high-profile example was an announcement by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a by-election in Wales in 2019 when he announced major investments for the affected region.

In 2023, the Liberal Democrats also accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of flouting purdah during local elections.