LONDON (Brand Republic) - The Advertising Standards Authority has warned it cannot deal with complaints about political advertising, even though the general election may be just weeks away.
Since January 2000, when changes were made in the British Codes of Advertising and Sales Promotion, the ASA cannot consider 鈥渁ny advertisement, whenever published, whose principal function is to influence voters in local, regional, national or international elections or referendums on the single currency鈥.
These include election advertising, whether by political parties or pressure groups. In the past, some election advertising has been exempt from the codes but not all. Politicians were not liable to its rules on substantiation, truthfulness, testimonials, comparisons and denigration.
The changes followed the tricky position the ASA found itself in before the last election when it upheld complaints against the Conservatives鈥 鈥淣ew Labour, new danger鈥 poster because it featured Tony Blair with devil-like eyes. But it was unable to deal with the Labour 鈥淪ame old Tories, same old lies鈥 campaign that was deemed to fall outside its remit.
It has told the public to make complaints about election advertising directly to politicians.