Labour MP calls for repeal of Beatbullying ad ban

Fundraising | Stefan Marseglia | 28 Jan 2010

Labour MP Anne Maguire has tabled an Early Day Motion today, calling on Clearcast to reconsider its decision to ban a BeatBullying advertisement.

The advert, which depicts a young girl in her bedroom sewing up her mouth to the tagline of “If you’re being bullied, who can you talk to?”, forms part of the ‘You can speak out now’ campaign developed in memory of 15-year-old schoolgirl Megan Gillan who took a fatal overdose after being bullied on a social networking website.

Clearcast considered the multi-million-pound campaign too graphic for television, however it will still run in cinemas from 19 January after being deemed acceptable to be shown on 12A movies and above by the Cinema Advertising Association.

Maguire’s EDM currently has ten signatures including the chair of the Culture Media and Sport select committee John Whittingdale.

It asks for a repeal of Clearcast’s ruling on the advert and congratulates Beatbullying for providing a safe online space for the 275,000 young people who have accessed the Cybermentors website in the past ten months.

Emma-Jane Cross, chief executive of Beatbullying, said: “We are proud of this advert and the way it makes you stop and understand the impact bullying can have on its victims.

“But we were disappointed that Clearcast refused to let this advert go onto TV. If just one more vulnerable young person gets the help they need from Cybermentors, then all of the hard work and generous donations put into this advert will be proved worthwhile.”

Who's Who: Emma-Jane Cross

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