Imagine an ever-growing, detailed archive documenting every significant event and decision of the UK government. This is the UK official record, a diverse collection that now includes a significant digital footprint.
As the 2024 general election approaches its final stages, here’s how this vast record is capturing both the predictable and surprising moments of this election season. As I explain in my recent co-edited book, The Official Record, most states document a version of their operations in their official record. This is as true for the UK as it is for other nations.
Rather than a dry ledger, this record (broadly defined as the sum total of material created as a result of the operations of the UK state) is diverse, becoming more so as increasing amounts of this output is now created in the digital realm.
