logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
22m 36s

Political ads are embracing legal loopho...

The New Statesman
About this episode

Political advertising in the UK has been a largely regulated space, that us up until about a decade ago.


Historically, political advertising has been banned from broadcast aside from a small allotted period of time in the run up to an election. However, as the times are-a-changin, and technology and advertising formats have evolved, political parties have found and embraced some legal loopholes. Our screens are now awash with political adverts, character attacks, and sometimes factually inaccurate messaging - created and paid for by our government and the opposition.


So what does it mean now that our leaders are playing dirty? What can we expect to see in the lead up to the general election? And will this have any effect on voters, or is it just Westminster name-calling?


Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, is joined by Jonn Elledge, journalist, author and New Statesman columnist.


This episode was recorded prior to the calling of the general election last week.




Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
Robert Jenrick: Genuine PM potential or just foreshadowing Farage?
'Some of his views are pretty extreme... I found it pretty sinister'-Harry Lambert, contributing writer to the New Statesman, talks to Anoosh Chakelian and Will Lloyd about his cover story profiling the Conservative MP and leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick.Can he really become PM ... Show More
31m 36s
Jul 8
Are Oasis in fact the greatest Irish band ever?
With the biggest reunion tour in years kicking off in Cardiff last weekend, the culture show asks if Oasis were just too Irish to be the best Britpop band in the first place?The New Statesman's commissioning editor Finn McRedmond sits down with colleagues George Eaton, Nick Harri ... Show More
18m 35s
Jul 7
SEND: Labour's next backbench battle
After the bruising passage of the government's welfare reform bill, attention on the backbenches is now turning to another lightning rod issue - the potential overhaul of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system.Anoosh Chakelian discusses the battles looming w ... Show More
18m 53s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2024
The TikTok Election?
There may be no date set for the general election, but campaigning has already begun on our social media feeds. Matt hears what kind of adverts the parties are buying, what it says about their election strategies, and how digital campaigning has changed since 2019. Plus: Columnis ... Show More
36m 49s
Sep 2016
TALKING POLITICS
Corbyn! Trump! Brexit! Politics has never been more unpredictable, more alarming or more interesting. From next week (22ND September 2016), a brand new podcast called TALKING POLITICS will be launched to try to make sense of it all. Each week, David Runciman will talk to the most ... Show More
4m 23s
Nov 2019
113. WHY AM I SEEING THIS AD: regulating campaigns in the digital age
Hello! Why are political adverts banned on TV and radio but allowed all over websites like Facebook and Google? Is it time to update our campaign laws for the 21st century? Sam Jeffers explains how campaign group ‘Who Targets Me’ are opening up the black box of online ads in elec ... Show More
48m 17s
Jun 2024
Does this election campaign need to be a bit more dirty?
Election day is two weeks tomorrow. For some that can't come soon enough. Today - with the help of former Tory Chairman and ad man Lord Maurice Saatchi we assess the state of the campaign and ask how politicians are communicating with the public, and what the public is saying bac ... Show More
34m 6s
Jan 2024
Why is trust in UK politics so low?
Today, we look at whether the voters trust political leaders. Laura, Paddy and Henry wrap up what the politicians made of the focus groups on Laura's show. Can politicians be trusted with the big issues voters believe the country faces? Who does the public think would make a good ... Show More
29m 17s
Aug 2023
Why So Many MPs Are Calling It Quits
This Saturday we're bringing you an extra episode from another Times podcast - Stories of Our Times - one remarkable story, told in depth, each day. With an election just around the corner, politicians are quitting Westminster in their droves, many of them under 40. Is the job br ... Show More
28m 15s
May 2024
Key EU policies — how will they change after the vote?
With just a week to go until the European election and the campaign in full gear, we're focusing on how the vote will impact key EU policies such as health, energy, climate, technology and defense. Will they be affected by the shake-up of the bloc's political landscape and the ar ... Show More
36m 59s
Oct 2022
The Chancellor, the u-turn and a political meltdown
After nine days of political pressure, chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has u-turned on the government’s plan to abolish the top rate of income tax, saying he felt ‘humility and contrition’. So, what was the mood at the Conservative party conference as Kwarteng addressed his party? Plus ... Show More
31m 49s
Apr 2023
Child grooming, 'political correctness' and dog whistle politics
Rishi Sunak has pledged to end the 'political correctness' that stops police arresting child sex abusers from ethnic minority backgrounds. The scandals of Rotherham, Rochdale, Telford show how badly things can go wrong for victims when the perpetrators are seen to be beyond the l ... Show More
28m 44s
Nov 2021
‘I genuinely believe that the UK is not remotely a corrupt country’
This week we examine the row about outside interests for British MPs. Is it acceptable to be earning hundreds of thousands of pounds a year on top of their parliamentary work? And do voters care? Chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley will analyse the situation with politic ... Show More
33m 45s