Political TV advertising could be coming to UK screens as European Court considers overturning ban
A ban on the broadcast of political adverts on TV could be lifted following a legal challenge from Animal Defenders International.
The animal rights group are challenging a block on its ‘My Mate’s a Primate’ campaign which featured comedian Alexei Sayle reporting on the abuse of performing apes.
Ofcom currently bar ads which ‘campaign on issues or seek to influence opinion on matters of public controversy’.
The European Court of Human Rights are set currently deliberating as to whether the ban violates the guarantee to freedom of expression and will give its verdict within weeks.
Currently a wide range of adverts from charities, campaigners and political parties are banned – although this does not extend to online channels such as ITV Player, 4oD and BBC iPlayer.
If the ban is revoked it could open the floodgates to a host of US-style commercials campaigning on controversial issues ranging from climate change to abortion and animal rights.
Animal Defenders lawyer Tamsin Allen said: ”Commercial companies are free to advertise their products no matter how controversial they may be, but charities and campaign groups may cannot. This is fundamentally unfair.”