The PR community has welcomed a report by senior MPs into how the use of misleading jargon by ministers and civil servants is causing tangible harm to the public and should be investigated for maladministration.
The Public Administration Select Committee has warned that inaccurate, confusing or misleading official language could confuse voters and, more worryingly, prevent people from getting the benefits or services to which they are entitled.
It called upon the government to take its responsibility seriously to ensure good, clear and understandable communication and treat cases of confusing bad language, including long, complex forms and officious letters, as maladministration.
The committee said that politicians and civil servants routinely practised distorting or evasive language, confusing the public with a linguistic sea of
roll-outs, step changes, fit for purposes, stakeholder engagements, level playing fields and going forwards.
Public relations practitioners have joined the debate, stressing that this is a PR issue and that official jargon undermines the reputation of the government and civil service.
And they have applauded committee chairman Labour MP Tony Wright, who said that good government required good language, while bad language was a sign of poor government. Quite literally, he couldn't have expressed it more clearly.
hello@octopuspr.co.uk 
01785
229530 
