Submitted on Saturday 10th November 2018
Rejected on Tuesday 13th November 2018
Current status: Rejected
Rejection code: irrelevant (see below for details)
Amend the BCAP on political advertising so the Iceland Christmas advert is shown
Rules on political advertising in the UK are ridiculous. Iceland is being blocked from choosing how they explain why they are removing palm oil from products in their own Christmas advert because of part of the BCAP despite Clearcast having no other issues with content or message of the ad.
This section from the BCAP should be removed, or amended so it is only enforced at key political times:
An advertisement contravenes the prohibition on political advertising if it is "An advertisement which is inserted by or on behalf of a body whose objects are wholly or mainly of a political nature."
https://www.clearcast.co.uk/press/iceland-advert/
Ideally: before 25/12 and as part of a rewrite to ensure rules on this are strict enough around elections or referendum, relaxed at other times.
You can't sign this petition because it was rejected. But you can still comment on it here at Repetition.me!
The Government e-Petitions Team gave the following reason:
The decision was taken by Clearcast, who are a private organisation. They preclear adverts on behalf of broadcasters before they appear on television.
You can find their statement here:
www.clearcast.co.uk/blog/clearcasts-md-responds-to-coverage-of-their-decision-not-to-clear-the-iceland-ad/
Broadcast adverts are covered by the UK Code of Broadcast Advertising. The rules on political advertising are the responsibility of Ofcom, and not the UK Government or Parliament.
www.asa.org.uk/codes-and-rulings/advertising-codes/broadcast-code.html
You could start a new petition calling for changes to the way advertising is regulated in the UK if that is something you would like to see happen.
3.145.97.248 Sun, 28 Apr 2024 09:58:44 +0100
