The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) becomes enforceable on the 25th of May 2018.

These changes were approved by the European Parliament in 2016.

Unlike an EU directive, which gives countries a template for their local law, the GDPR is an EU Regulation and has binding legal force throughout every EU Member State, with very little room for individual governments to vary its terms.

The European Parliament has also said that any country outside the EU must comply with the GDPR if they wish to continue processing information about EU citizens.

Britain First has always rejected the notion that British interests are somehow best served by passing responsibility for our laws to Brussels, where they can be influenced by an unelected elite. 

We welcome the result of the EU Referendum in June 2016 and are proud to have campaigned for decades against the continued association between the EU and our own sovereign nation.

Despite the popular people’s choice in favour of Brexit, we are still bound by treaty to adopt the GDPR as a replacement for our existing Data Protection Act.

Britain First also recognises the practical advantages of a reciprocal arrangement, whereby certain rules are agreed in the interest of our citizens.

Our commitment to self-determination does not lessen the need for the people of Britain to engage with and be part of the wider world with a reasonable amount of security.

Britain First has always given priority to the care of personal data and has taken steps to guard the privacy of our members and supporters.

We have always complied with the Data Protection Act and welcome any legislation, which gives our members and supporters increased freedom to express political opinion without fear of persecution by the authorities.

We will be monitoring the situation carefully as the new rules start to take effect and if we identify any changes, which we should make, then we will make them.

You can rest assured that your data has always been and will always be handled by us with the utmost care.

Britain First is an organisation which has been subject to the Data Protection Act and is subject to the General Data Protection Regulation and other relevant statute.

For the purposes of the GDPR, Britain First is a Data Controller.

Britain First makes use of Data Processors and holds personal information relating to Data Subjects.

Britain First looks for guidance in the first instance to the Information Commissioner’s Office as the appropriate UK independent supervisory authority, having its legal basis within the GDPR.

Britain First recognises that the GDPR is young legislation and that, although the goals of the Regulation may be clear, it has still to be tested in court and no best practice has yet been established.

Britain First accepts that personal data can be defined as any information relating to an individual within their private, professional and public life.

Such data can include a name, a home or email address, a photo of a person, banking or financial information, posts made on the Internet, vehicle details or a computer’s IP address.

For the avoidance of doubt and until further guidance is made available from the ICO, Britain First qualifies personal data as that which would reasonably allow a natural person to become identifiable.

Britain First looks to engage voters and citizens and sees this as a core value of any democracy.

Britain First has an Internet presence, including an official website and various other channels such as social media.

We record and process information as part of our communication with the public via these means as well as through face-to-face contact.

Britain First does not purchase or use personal data from marketing companies.

Britain First has never and will never sell information to any third-parties.

Britain First will never share information with any third-parties, other than those in a contract to us to provide a necessary service as part of the day-to-day management of our organisation.

We will take every precaution to ensure that any such Data Processor acting on our behalf is compliant with the GDPR and does not make unauthorised copies of Britain First data and does not share Britain First data with any other person or group unless they are also in contract to us and then only when consent is explicitly given by us.

Britain First operates at national, regional and local level.

Any officer or member of the Party at any level will be required to sign an agreement to abide by both the rules of Britain First and the relevant legislation before any access is given to personal data.

Britain First recognises that materials putting forward a political view, a stance on an issue or promoting a candidate are required under legislation to identify the party or group and to provide contact details.

This is a requirement both under laws governing direct marketing and also under the statute relating to elections.

It is also equally a requirement of any group campaigning against, rather than for, a candidate or party to identify themselves and to provide contact details.

Britain First recognises that at least one lawful basis is required before personal data can be collected and processed. Any personal data processed by the Britain First will satisfy one or more of the following conditions:

• Processing by Britain First or its agents is necessary for the performance of a contractual obligation between the individual and Britain First. One example of this would be to manage memberships.
• Processing by Britain First or its agents is necessary for Britain First to comply with a legal obligation. One example of this would be the submission to the Electoral Commission of the details of any individuals, who make donations to the Party beyond the set limits for anonymity.
• Processing by Britain First is necessary for the performance of a task, which is carried out in the public interest. One example of this would be canvassing using the Electoral Register.
• Processing by Britain First is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests of the Party. One example of this would be campaign management, although this does not outweigh the rights of the data subject as detailed within the GDPR.
• Processing by Britain First is carried out with the explicit consent of the individual, for a stated purpose and in a manner compliant with the GDPR. One example of this would be signing-up to a mailing list.

Britain First supports the view that organisations should provide details to individuals on what information is held about them.

Members and supporters have used existing legislation successfully in the past to obtain details about themselves, often held inappropriately or illegally, from organisations, which have attempted to discriminate against them.

Britain First recognises the individual’s right of access to personal information held within our records.

Britain First recognises that people have the right to privacy and to change their mind.

As far as is possible, Britain First will remove any personal data about an individual when a legitimate request is made to do so.

This applies to the withdrawal of consent and also to the ending of a contract between the individual and Britain First.

This does not apply where Britain First has a legal obligation to keep a record of a person’s details.

Britain First, after complying with a request to remove personal data for one purpose, such as a mailing list, may then be subsequently provided with similar data from the Electoral Services department of a local authority.

This is clearly for separate purposes and although consent may be withdrawn, another lawful basis for processing may replace it.

Britain First recognises that, like any political organisation, it may make use of a Freepost mailshot when certain criteria are met.

Britain First recognises that the GDPR applies to data, which can be used to identify an individual.

The same principles do not apply to promotional material such as leaflet-drops and mailings, which are either unaddressed or addressed simply to “the occupier.”

Britain First operates within the terms of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations, which sit alongside the GDPR.

One example of the application of this law is the use of cookies, which are small text files stored by your browser. You have control of cookies on your own device.

If you choose to accept cookies from Britain First website, we will only use them to help you access Britain First webpages.

We do not access any information stored in a cookie placed by other websites such as Google or by any online shopping websites.

Our cookies do not contain personal information.

Our cookies do contain your public IP address.

Britain First uses email, telephone and text messaging technologies.

Again, this is only ever carried out in accordance with the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations and any personal information is processed only in line with our commitment to the public’s security.

Britain First wholly rejects political correctness and the influences of cultural Marxism.

As a party, we are committed to democracy and to the freedom of elections.

We support the freedom of assembly and of association.

Most of all, we object to any restriction placed on the people of Britain with regard to their freedom of thought, belief and expression.

We ask any user of our website, social media or other Internet presence to treat others with respect.

We cannot assume liability, either directly or indirectly, for the personal criminal actions of others, including officers of the party or members of the public, which contradict the Britain First’s standards of acceptable behaviour, the Britain First’s Constitution or any relevant statute.

Britain First is not required to employ a dedicated Data Protection Officer.

The principles of data protection are the duty of every officer and member of the Party.

Requests for information and requests for removal of information should be sent to: Data Protection, PO Box 2242, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT13 9DB

Britain First notes the distinction between the GDPR and previous guidelines in that the right to be forgotten has been replaced by a right to be deleted.

Requests for removal of personal details notwithstanding, Britain First asserts its right to carry canvass returns, marked registers and other tools of democracy forward from one election to the next.

Britain First notes that until further guidance is given, deceased persons are afforded different rights in that national legislation takes precedence over the GDPR.

We make a commitment to treat our members and supporters with the same respect in death as in life.

Britain First recognises that data breaches are considered under the GDPR to be a deliberate or accidental release of personal information to an untrusted environment.

This could include lost data, unintentional disclosure and malicious hacking or theft.

Britain First recognises its obligation to report any relevant data breach to the ICO within seventy-two hours.

Any data breach is considered relevant if it is likely to have an adverse effect on an individual’s privacy.

Britain First welcomes the increased enforceability of data protection laws.

Historically, any perceived misuse has only been addressed through internal disciplinary action with further recourse under potentially very expensive civil law.

The GDPR gives the ICO increased opportunity to prosecute anybody, who attempts to compromise the privacy of our membership.

Please refer to our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions for more information.