Independent watchdog or political censorship?

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has been accused of political censorship for launching a spurious investigation into an advertisement against same-sex marriage.

The ASA launched the formal investigation after it received one complaint against a newspaper advertisement placed by SPUC.

The advertisement warned that "gay relationships will be promoted in schools" if the Government's Marriage (Same Sex Couples) bill becomes law. The complaint alleged that the statement was "misleading".

The ASA has demanded that SPUC substantiate its claim. SPUC has today replied to the ASA with a robust letter accusing the ASA of "trespassing on freedom of expression in the political field". [SPUC, 21 June]

Other stories:

• Write to the French Embassy in London to demand the release of Nicolas
• Tower Hamlets parents protest about abuse of science National Curriculum
• Advertising watchdog accused of political censorship
• Women Deliver Conference 2013: do women have a right to kill but no right to conceive? [SPUC youth blog, 24 June]
• All-Ireland Rally for Life, 6 July, Garden of Remembrance, Dublin [Pat Buckley, 24 June]
• Ireland's Catholic bishops sent anti-abortion leaflet to all parishes [Irish Times, 24 June]
• New Down's Syndrome test leads to fears of an increase in abortions [Mail, 23 June]
• New Irish opinion poll shows strong support for a free vote on abortion and for a referendum rather than the currently proposed Government legislation [Pat Buckley, 21 June]
• Obese UK woman had abortion to have gastric band operation [Sun, 21 June]
• Maternal and neonatal health better in Ireland than in Great Britain, reports the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons [Pat Buckley, 20 June]
• Irish IVF centre to screen embryos for cystic fibrosis [Irish Examiner, 24 June]
• Judge gave decision on life-saving treatment over his mobile - while at the zoo [Mail, 24 June]
• We need more babies if we're to bounce back [Telegraph, 23 June]
• Nearly half a million new sexual infections in 2012 in the UK [Pat Buckley, 20 June]