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Electoral roll for sale (Brian Robertson not included)
Yorkshire man wins his right to data privacy...

By Sally Watson

Published: Monday 19 November 2001

Retired accountant Brian Robertson has won a landmark High Court case to prevent his local authority from selling his electoral details for commercial use.

The 58-year-old resident of Pontefract, West Yorkshire, brought the case after Wakefield City Council refused to guarantee that it wouldn't sell Robertson's name and address to marketing firms or credit reference agencies.

As a result Robertson refused to register on the electoral roll and was unable to vote in June's General Election.

A ruling from Mr Justice Maurice Kay on Friday found the council's actions breached Robertson's right to privacy under the Human Rights Act.