This petition was submitted during the 2015–2017 Conservative government

Petition Make political claims subject to advertising standards laws.

A company making false claims in order to sell its products is liable to prosecution. Any politician, candidate or political party making false claims should also be prosecuted.

This petition closed early because of a General Election Find out more on the Petitions Committee website

10,762 signatures

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100,000

Government responded

This response was given on 2 May 2017

There are already laws prohibiting false statements about candidates. Beyond this, it is for rival campaigners to challenge inaccurate arguments as part of the normal course of political debate.

Read the response in full

The Representation of the People Act 1983 sets out that a person is guilty of an illegal practice if, before or during an election, they aim to affect the result by making or publishing a false statement in relation to a candidate’s personal character or conduct.

The accuracy of arguments advanced in the course of an election or referendum is not subject to regulation. It is for rival campaigners to challenge and rebut arguments they perceive to be inaccurate as part of the normal course of political debate.

Cabinet Office