This petition was submitted during the 2017–2019 Conservative government

Rejected petition Legalise party political placards on street furniture during an election

The laws in the UK against fly-posting are so restrictive that, unlike in most other countries, elections are totally invisible to people on the street. Yet during the Christmas season the councils find time to put up decorations on every lamp-post to remind us that we need to keep shopping.

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In most countries (throughout Europe and especially Ireland) you can really tell when an election is on because the lamp-posts, bridges and traffic railings are festooned with coloured placards and banners, often with photos of the smiling candidates.

I used to be against it, but now I can really see the point in letting people feel there is something is happening. We have gone way too far in banning these notices. Trials should be run in selected parts of the country at the next election.

This petition was rejected

Why was this petition rejected?

It’s about something that the UK Government or Parliament is not directly responsible for.

We can't accept your petition because this would be a decision for local councils and not the UK Government or Parliament.

The law doesn't explicitly prevent political advertising in this way. It does allow local authorities to remove any "picture, letter, sign or other mark painted, ascribed or affixed on the surface of the highway, or any structure or works on or in the highway." It is up to local authorities how they use that power.

You can find out more here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/7788/156909.pdf

Larger placards may require planning permission. The decision to grant this would also be for the local authority and not the UK Government or Parliament.

We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.