Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

The Southend Liberal Democrats are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and safeguard your personal data when you interact with our website, attend our events, sign up for updates, or get in touch with us. We handle your data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

2. What Data We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal information:

• Contact details: name, email address, postal address, and phone number.
• Engagement data: events you have attended, campaigns you have signed, and areas of interest you have shared.
• Communication preferences: how you prefer to hear from us and topics you care about.
• Technical data: IP address, browser type, and device information when you use our website.

3. How We Use Your Data

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

• To communicate with you about local campaigns, events, and party news.
• To process membership applications and volunteer sign-ups.
• To respond to enquiries submitted through our contact form.
• To analyse website traffic and improve user experience.
• To comply with electoral and campaign regulations where required by law.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data based on one or more of the following lawful grounds: your explicit consent, the performance of a contract or membership agreement, compliance with a legal obligation, or our legitimate interests as a political party engaging with the electorate in a democratic society.

5. Data Sharing and Third Parties

We do not sell your personal data. We may share limited data with trusted service providers who assist us with website hosting, email delivery, and event management. All third parties are contractually bound to protect your data and may only use it for the specific purpose we instruct. Where required, we may also share data with the Electoral Commission or other regulatory bodies.

6. Cookies and Tracking

Our website uses essential cookies to ensure functionality and may use analytics cookies to understand how visitors interact with our site. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. We do not use intrusive tracking or behavioural advertising cookies.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy. If you request deletion, withdraw consent, or cease engagement with us, we will securely delete or anonymise your data within a reasonable timeframe, unless we are required by law to retain it longer.

8. Your Rights

Under data protection law, you have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Request erasure of your data (“right to be forgotten”).
• Object to or restrict certain types of processing.
• Withdraw consent at any time, where processing is based on consent.
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

9. Security

We employ appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. This includes encrypted connections (HTTPS), access controls, and regular security reviews.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Any significant changes will be communicated to you via email or a prominent notice on our website.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please contact us at info@southendlibdems.co.uk or write to us at 2A Clifftown Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 1AB.