Christians Not Above the Law…Court tells London Christian Radio to abide by the law banning political advertising

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See article from telegraph.co.uk

A judge declares a Christian radio ad to be political and hence correctly banned. The proposed 30-second advert for Premier Christian Radio called on listeners to report their experiences of being marginalised in the workplace. It was blocked by the Radio Advertising Clearance Centre (RACC), because it was directed to a political end. London Christian Radio Ltd, which runs Premier, a national station, won a judicial review to challenge the ruling, describing the advert as about the most inoffensive proposed ad one could hope to get. James Dingemans QC argued that if the advert was in breach of the 2003 Communications Act, which banned political advertising, then the relevant sections of the Act should be declared incompatible with Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects freedom of expression. However, Mr Justice Silber, sitting in London, ruled that Article 10 had not been breached and that the RACC decision was both rational and lawful. He declared the ad to be political as it was intended to obtain information in a bid to try to make changes to society. Peter Kerridge, chief executive of London Christian Radio and the Premier media group, described the ruling as wholly reminiscent of a totalitarian state and said an application would be made to appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Screams of Censorial Pleasure…Ann Summers halloween outfits advert blocked

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Based on article from independent.co.uk Hear the advert on youtube.com

A halloween radio advert for the lingerie retailer Ann Summers has been banned for being likely to offend listeners according to the Radio Advertising Clearance Centre (RACC) The broadcaster’s adviser said that it contained fairly overt sexual references in terms of sound effects. The commercial begins with the sound of screams, which are replaced by screams of pleasure. A voice can then be heard to say: Tight, short, low-cut. Ann Summers dead sexy Hallowe’en outfits with £5 off. In stores, online and at parties. A spokesman for the RACC said the ad breached advertising regulations governing taste and offence. Ann Summers has appealed appealed the decision. We believe that Britons are broad-minded and would understand the topical and cheeky nature of our advert, said a spokesman for the company.