Governance & Accountability

UKPoliticsDecoded Standards & Governance Hub

1. Purpose of This Page

This page explains how UKPoliticsDecoded is structured, how editorial and organisational decisions are made, and how we maintain independence, transparency, and accountability as a public interest civic publisher.

It also links to key governance documents that describe our standards, funding, accessibility commitments, and regulatory alignment.

2. How UKPoliticsDecoded Is Structured

UKPoliticsDecoded is an independent, non‑profit civic information publisher operated by a single responsible individual, with the capacity to expand into a multi‑contributor model as the platform grows.

Current Structure

Publisher & Editorial Lead: Liam Gibbins

Responsible for editorial standards, legal compliance, content oversight, and governance.

Contributors

Occasional contributors may support research or writing. All contributors must follow the IMPRESS Standards Code and our Contributor Terms.

Future Expansion

As the platform grows, additional roles (editors, fact checkers, researchers) may be introduced. Any changes to structure or responsibilities will be reflected in updated governance documentation.

3. Editorial Independence

UKPoliticsDecoded maintains strict editorial independence. This means:

  • We do not accept funding that compromises neutrality.
  • We do not publish partisan content or political advocacy.
  • Editorial decisions are based on evidence, clarity, and public interest, not external influence.
  • Contributors have the right to refuse any instruction that would breach the IMPRESS Standards Code.

Our independence is reinforced through transparent governance, clear editorial standards, and public accountability mechanisms.

4. Decision Making and Accountability

Editorial Decisions

Editorial decisions are made by the Publisher & Editorial Lead, guided by:

Governance Decisions

Governance decisions including policy updates, structural changes, and compliance matters are made by the Publisher & Editorial Lead, with transparency ensured through public documentation.

Regulatory Accountability

As a regulated publisher, UKPoliticsDecoded:

  • cooperates fully with IMPRESS
  • follows the IMPRESS Regulatory Scheme
  • reports compliance failures where required
  • publishes adjudications or directions issued by IMPRESS

This ensures independent oversight and public trust.

5. Transparency and Public Trust

Transparency is central to our mission. We publish detailed information about:

how we are funded
how editorial decisions are made
how complaints are handled
how corrections are issued
how we maintain accessibility
how we uphold the IMPRESS Standards Code

These documents are available below.

6. Key Governance Documents

7. Maintaining Independence

We safeguard independence through:

transparent funding
clear editorial standards
strict conflict‑of‑interest rules
refusal of partisan influence
adherence to the IMPRESS Standards Code
whistleblowing protections for contributors

These measures ensure that our journalism remains neutral, evidence based, and in the public interest.

8. Review and Updates

This governance page is reviewed regularly to ensure it reflects:

  • current organisational structure
  • regulatory requirements
  • best practice in public interest journalism
  • updates to our policies or processes

Any changes will be published here.