Stoke-on-Trent City Council is introducing new rules restricting employees' 'political expression' at work.

Staff at Stoke-on-Trent City Council will be explicitly barred from displaying any political statements or slogans in the workplace, under the authority's updated code of conduct.

The council says the new rules are aimed at maintaining a 'professional and inclusive environment' and to ensure nobody feels 'pressured, excluded or uncomfortable' as a result political expression while at work.

But the code of conduct makes it clear that the rules will not restrict employees political expression outside of work, nor are they intended to interfere with 'lawful trade union activities'.

City councillors approved the revised code of conduct at a full council meeting on Thursday.

The updated code also features a new section on anti-racism, and the rules covering the use of photographs and avatars on the council's internal systems.

Councillor Sarah Hill, cabinet member for finance, said: "The employee code of conduct is a core governance document and this is our regular biennial review of it.

"We wanted to make sure the code of conduct remains relevant and compliant with current operational standards. The three trade unions have been consulted and engaged in this process."

The updated code of conduct says employees must not 'display, share, or promote political statements, slogans, symbols, or campaign materials or flags, in any work-related context'.

In the new section on profile photographs, the rules state that employees must ensure their profile image is 'appropriate for the workplace setting'.

Staff will be banned from using logos, flags, cartoons, memes or novelty images as their profile pictures.

The report to full council notes that the new rules on political expression and profile pictures may cause 'initial pushback' from some employees.

This risk has been mitigated through consultation with the unions and by drafting the wording in a way that ensures the rules are 'fair and transparent'.

The new section on anti-racism states that the council is committed to being 'an actively anti-racist organisation'.

It says that any form of racist behaviour, including 'stereotyping, microagressions or systemic practices that disadvantage individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, nationality, or cultural background' are unacceptable.

A section on hybrid working has also been added to the code, stating that employees are required to attend the workplace for an average of two days per week.