Misleading Times

In the UK, political advertising doesn't have to be truthful. Unlike commercial adverts, which have to adhere to strict standards, marketing run by political parties - or anyone running a candidate in a national election - are allowed to mislead the public legally.

Reform Political Advertising wanted to change that. So we ran a candidate for parliament (in the Gorton & Denton byelection) & published the Misleading Times: a satirical newspaper filled with articles, editorials and adverts that playfully exposed the many methods that MPs use to mislead the public (and get away with it). Distributed to MPs and the public, the paper drew widespread media attention and put pressure on lawmakers to close the loophole by adding 4 specific amendments to the upcoming elections bill.