# Charity challenges ban on political advertising in court

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2006/07/20/charity-challenges-ban-political-advertising-court/
- Published: 2006-07-20T23:00:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

On Monday 24 July Animal Defenders International will present its challenge to the
ban on political advertising in the broadcast media at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Represented by Bindman & Partners, Animal Defenders International will challenge
the Government’s ban that prevents thousands of campaigning organisations such as
Amnesty and the Make Poverty History coalition from advertising on radio and television.

Such organisations can advertise freely in most other European and Commonwealth 
countries.

The court will consider evidence from Amnesty and the RSPCA about their experiences
of the ban and from academic experts about the impact of television and radio advertising.

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Tamsin Allen of Bindman & Partners said: “The European Convention on Human Rights
guarantees the right to freedom of expression. The current ban on political advertising
means that even campaigning organisations with no connection to any political party
may not use broadcast media to raise money or to campaign on issues.

“This leads to unfairness – BP are permitted to advertise their green credentials
on TV but environmental organisations are not permitted to criticise the oil industry
for its role in climate change in the same media. We are hopeful that the challenge
will succeed and open the way for thousands of organisations to advertise on TV 
and radio and to benefit from the new developments in interactive TV.”

The case will be heard in Court 3 at the Royal Courts of Justice Before Lord Justice
Auld and Mr Justice Ouseley on Monday morning.

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