Court to rule 
on political 
adverts ban

European judges will rule today on a legal challenge claiming a blanket ban on the adverts breaches the right to free speech.

But Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said any change to the rules governing political advertising should be a matter for the UK rather than the European Court of Human Rights.

The Strasbourg court’s Grand Chamber will deliver its judgment on the long-running case brought by an animal welfare group but the Government is concerned a relaxation of the ban could lead to the airwaves being dominated by the political pressure groups with the deepest pockets.

In 2005 Animal Defenders International was blocked from screening a TV advertisement which juxtaposed images of a girl and then a chimpanzee in chains in an animal cage.

The House of Lords upheld the ban in 2008 and the group then took the case to the European court, claiming the prohibition breached the Article 10 right to freedom of expression.

A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said: “Political adverts are – and have always been – banned on British TV and radio. That ban has wide support and has helped sustain the balance of views which is at the heart of British broadcasting – and ensures that advertising broadcast into our homes is not determined by those who have the deepest pockets.”