Under the Widdicombe rules senior officers are barred from standing for election, political campaigning, writing or speaking in a manner which could affect the standing of a political party or holding office within a party.

Understanding of what counts for “political campaigning, writing or speaking in a manner which could affect the standing of a political party” has been varied. In general we’re advised to air on the side of caution and withdraw from any such activity. Perfectly harmless, low key campaigning for human rights, for example, could be interpreted as conferring support for one party position’s on that issue over another.

In practice these rules stop you being able to participate in the democratic process at any level. We are effectively silenced.

Despite my background, my view on taking up my first such post in 2002 was very much c’est la vie. An annoyance and irritation but the price you have to pay if you wish to progress a career in local government. I’ve been OK with that generally. I understand how I need to maintain neutrality and be apolitical in the performance of my professional duties.

I do however still think this is a great shame. We live in an age where politics is increasingly marginalised and where we are actively seeking new ways of engagement yet we exclude a large number of people from participation who would have a strong contribution to make.

As for the use of social media my own experience has been that it can at times be difficult. I’ve had some great exchanges on Twitter during #bbcqt and with @cllrtim and others, but on more than one occasion I’ve had to delete a part written tweet and sit on my hands to avoid ‘crossing the line’.

As more people begin to use social media I suspect we will see this challenged. There will inevitably continue to be headlines about officials being dismissed because of ‘that evil Face Book and Twitter’ – the Daily Mail & Express seem to love this stuff – but as the social tech fulcrum moves and we develop a maturity towards and understanding of these issues, the mist of uncertainty will lift and common sense will prevail.

We may even see the rules on standing for office scrapped and then who knows what the future will hold for many of us!?