Despite its chart performance, radio stations in the United Kingdom, including
BBC Radio as well as commercial stations, widely refused to play "Liar Liar GE17", due to concerns that airplay of the song could violate broadcasting regulations in force during election campaign periods. The
Representation of the People Act 1983, as well as the code of
Ofcom, the United Kingdom's broadcasting regulator, contain rules regulating and restricting the media coverage of elections, effective upon the dissolution of Parliament following an election call. These include requirements for media coverage of elections to be impartial, the prohibition of
political advertising (due to the
party political broadcast system), and
restrictions on election-related reporting on election day until polls close. A representative of the BBC stated that "we do not ban songs or artists, however our editorial guidelines require us to remain impartial and the UK is currently in an election period so we will not be playing the song." Despite this, there have been calls for radio stations to freely broadcast the song, viewing the practice of withholding it as being censorship. On 2 June 2017, during
The Official Chart broadcast, the band participated in a protest by the People's Assembly outside of
Broadcasting House, the BBC's headquarters and the studio of BBC Radio 1. thus "discouraging [readers] from accessing any viewpoints that could instigate critical thinking or debate." Citing the past censorship of the
Sex Pistols' controversial single "
God Save the Queen", they argued that the BBC "continually errs on the side of
The Establishment", when their remit should be to serve the public. == See also ==