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Our goal is simple: electoral advertising should be regulated so that
fact-based claims are accurate. We are not interested in party policy or
political arguments, but we are very interested indeed when data, events
and identities are manipulated, ignored or invented.
Voters agree with us: according to our 2020 YouGov research, 85% of the
UK public agree that it is important “that political parties’ adverts do
not make false or misleading claims.”
All major political parties have taken advantage of this lack of
regulation. Put another way, politicians know they can lie in
advertising, so they do. Our review of advertising in the 2019 General
Election is evidence if it were needed; local and national elections in
May 2021 are similarly infected by distortion and falsification.
The tide is beginning to turn: last year the House of Lords Democracy
and Digital Technology Committee (that we gave evidence to) recommended
regulation. In addition The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has
said it is ready to help.
We are also supported by several political parties who have signed our
Pledge, but the biggest advertisers continue to exploit this illogical
regulatory gap.
Dishonest political advertising distorts choice and damages democracy.
Please sign and share this petition to join us in demanding change.
We are politically neutral and not for profit.