ABSTRACT
A notable feature o f the British public sphere is the dearth o f privately sponsored political representations made through the broadcast media. This absence of ‘advocacy advertising’ on television and radio can be attributed to a restriction imposed by statute. Ostensibly, the prohibition is designed to prevent the garnering o f influence over elected government by affluent interests that might flow from the financing o f party-political advertising. It is also said to limit the prospect o f a public sphere inundated and overwhelmed by the ideas and values of privileged groups. The continuing value o f the measure is currently under review as part o f the wider proposal to create a single regulator for the communications sector.1 The Government envisages that the restriction will be maintained, albeit transferred into the ambit o f the new regulator.
