London assembly members think purdah rules are "too strict" and have branded them pointless.

As official campaigning for local elections began, City Hall, headquarters of the Greater London Authority, fell under strict press restrictions.

The pre-election period, known as purdah, means that civil servants, are not allowed to publish material which might bias voting in the local election process.

These civil servants include both members of the London assembly and media personnel working for the Mayor of London and London assembly members.

From the end of March until the local elections have finished all meetings at City Hall are closed to the public and press.

The local elections currently taking place are happening in London’s boroughs and are not London assembly or London Mayor elections which would take place at City Hall.

The response from many assembly members was that press restrictions during Purdah are too strict.

Keith Prince, Conservative London assembly member for Havering and Redbridge, argued that in matters concerning the Mayor of London and the London assembly there should be as much press freedom as possible.

Mr Prince said: “It could be understood if we’re in the middle of an election at City Hall but we’re not, it’s local borough elections so why should City Hall be affected by purdah.”

On Tuesday April 10, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan held a summit at City Hall which looked at how to tackle a surge in serious crime in the capital after the murder rate rose above 50 this year.

Mr Prince argued that the meeting should have been open to the public.

He said: “There are people dying on the streets every day and people have a right to know what he said and what others are doing about it.”

The Conservative representative said that the Mayor, who tweeted about the event and spoke to BBC Radio London about it was using it as a publicity stunt.

He added: “I think the whole purdah thing is quite ridiculous because there’s no consistency.”

Other Conservative London assembly members also expressed concerns about media restrictions on City Hall during the local election campaigns.

Tony Devenish, assembly member for West Central said that officials have interpreted purdah more strictly at every single election.

He said: “Most of us are uneasy when the press are kept out of political meetings, we want the press to have the opportunity to scrutinise us.”

“We need a review of it after the elections. It’s not a political point it’s a democratic point.”

Susan Hall, a Conservative assembly member for Harrow added: “The Mayor seems to be doing what he likes but the London Assembly are under purdah laws.”

Andrew Dismore, Labour London Assembly for Barnet and Camden said: “I think purdah rules are too strict. It’s ridiculous that we can’t have any press coverage.

“I do find it bizarre to shut down the whole of the assembly and have no committee meetings during this period.”

“It’s not the first time I’ve questioned this, I just think it’s ridiculous.”

Mr Dismore also expressed his concern at the two knife-crime meetings which took place the week before last which none of the press were allowed to report on.

He said: “We have had two knife crime meetings so far. I was at both meetings and I can’t put anything out officially until after the local elections. I can’t see anything in that meeting that was relevant to local elections.

"As long as we’re operating on a strategic level I don’t see any reason why we have purdah.”

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat assembly member said: “The rules relating to purdah during London Borough elections need to be reviewed and updated.

“Quite frankly stopping the public seeing London Assembly Members examine the issue of knife crime was a clear demonstration that the current rules are being interpreted in an excessive manner.

“The Greater London Authority should of course avoid giving publicity to any specific Assembly Member standing for election in the London Borough elections, but this criteria can still be met without closing down media coverage for all of the work of the London Assembly.”

UKIP London assembly member David Kurten said he hasn’t had any problems with purdah during the local elections but says it is a shame he can’t talk about some of the work he has done with various London assembly committees until after local elections.

He added: “I’m just trying to obey the rules as best I can. You’ve got this electoral commission and they are the body that are supposed to enforce those rules and I don’t know how much they do this in every single case.

"I think maybe someone needs to ask some questions to the electoral committee about how they are enforcing the rules.”

Caroline Russel, Green Party London assembly member however is in full support of press restrictions during purdah.

She said: “Our staff at City Hall are paid to be public servants and having strict purdah rules seems to be very sensible.

“I’m far too busy to worry about whether or not anyone from another political party is being liberal with the rules.

“I think the rules are there for a good purpose and I hope everyone is sticking to them.

“I think voters are very clever and sensible and if politicians are playing hard and fast with the rules they will call it out.”