32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?

Communications Act 2003

Party Political Broadcasts on Television and Radio

333Party political broadcasts

(1)The regulatory regime for every licensed public service channel, and the regulatory regime for every national radio service, includes—

(a)conditions requiring the inclusion in that channel or service of party political broadcasts and of referendum campaign broadcasts; and

(b)conditions requiring that licence holder to observe such rules with respect to party political broadcasts and referendum campaign broadcasts as may be made by OFCOM.

(2)The rules made by OFCOM for the purposes of this section may, in particular, include provision for determining—

(a)the political parties on whose behalf party political broadcasts may be made;

(b)in relation to each political party on whose behalf such broadcasts may be made, the length and frequency of the broadcasts; and

(c)in relation to each designated organisation on whose behalf referendum campaign broadcasts are required to be broadcast, the length and frequency of such broadcasts.

(3)Those rules are to have effect subject to sections 37 and 127 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41) (only registered parties and designated organisations to be entitled to party political broadcasts or referendum campaign broadcasts).

(4)Rules made by OFCOM for the purposes of this section may make different provision for different cases.

(5)Before making any rules for the purposes of this section, OFCOM must have regard to any views expressed by the Electoral Commission.

(6)In this section—

• “designated organisation”, in relation to a referendum, means a person or body designated by the Electoral Commission under section 108 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41) in respect of that referendum;
• “national radio service” means a national service within the meaning of section 245 of this Act; and
• “referendum campaign broadcast” has the meaning given by section 127 of that Act.

Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/41/contents

There is a long-standing ban on political advertising on TV amd radio in the UK. Instead, free airtime is provided in the form of short party election broadcasts, which allow qualifying parties an opportunity to communicate directl with the electorate. OFCOM sets the allocation of time.