MPs on the culture select committee are set to propose a boycott for businesses advertising with newspapers that do not adhere to codes set by a new press complaints body. Conservative MP and committee chairman John Whittingdale suggests that UK advertisers should refuse to spend money on controversial newspapers in a bid to ‘create pressure’ and ‘promote good practice’.


The voluntary pledge, set through advertising trade body Isba, would ask businesses to withhold millions in advertising to any newspaper that does not support the regulator replacing the PCC. Previous regulatory body Press Complaints Commission came under criticism for failure to curb phone hacking at the News of the World and is set to close.

Whittingdale stated: "We want a stronger self-regulatory system that is seen to be effective and command confidence. One of the great challenges is that it has to have all publishers sign up and accept the code. If you don't have a statutory underpinning it raises the question of how you persuade recalcitrant publishers to accept the code and jurisdiction of the [new] body."

He added the replacement body ‘had teeth’ and would avoid the complications of parliament legislation.

“The agreement would make it clear that they will expect any publication in which their ads appear to be a member and subscribe to the body's rules. It seems this is a very clear way in which we could create a real incentive, real pressure.”

Currently, UK companies spend £2.4 billion on newspaper advertising.
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