For a UK General Election the following criteria will apply:
The BBC's eligibility and allocation criteria for Party Election Broadcasts were as follows:
Threshold Criteria
If a political party stands candidates in at least one sixth of the constituencies of any of the nations, it will qualify for one Party Election Broadcast in that nation:
Parties standing candidates in at least one sixth of the seats in one or more of the nations will be entitled to a UK-wide broadcast (on channels which do not split their signal) instead of national broadcasts if they are standing candidates in at least one sixth of the constituencies across Great Britain (106).
A PEB may be allocated where a party does not qualify under the above criteria, but can demonstrate that it has significant levels of current electoral support.
These proposals will be kept under review until close of nominations.
As is required by the PPERA 2000, the proposed criteria are sent to the Electoral Commission for comment.
Additional PEBs
Political parties may qualify for additional PEBs, if they can demonstrate substantial levels of past and/or current electoral support.
Proposed allocation for 2007
In England, where there are three main parties, the Labour Party and the Conservative Party will be allocated 5 broadcasts each, the Liberal Democrat Party will be allocated 4 broadcasts. Other parties standing in at least one sixth of seats (89) in England will be allocated one broadcast.
In Scotland, where there are four main parties, the Labour Party, Conservative Party, Liberal Democrat Party and the Scottish National Party will be allocated four Party Election Broadcasts each. Other parties standing in at least one sixth of seats (10) in Scotland will be allocated one broadcast.
In Wales where there are four main parties, the Labour Party, Conservative Party, Liberal Democrat Party and Plaid Cymru will be allocated four Party Election Broadcasts each. Other parties standing in at least one sixth of seats (7) in Wales will be allocated one broadcast.
In Northern Ireland, where there are four main parties, the DUP, Sinn Fein, the Ulster Unionist Party and the SDLP, will be allocated four Party Election Broadcasts each. The Alliance Party will be allocated two broadcasts. Other parties standing in at least one sixth of seats (3) in Northern Ireland will be allocated one broadcast each.
In the UK as a whole (for those broadcasters who do not split their signals), the Labour Party and the Conservative Party will be allocated 5 broadcasts each, the Liberal Democrat Party will be allocated 4 broadcasts, and the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru will be allocated 3 broadcasts each. Other parties standing in at least one sixth of the seats in each of Scotland (10), Wales (7) and England (89) or which stand in a sixth (106) of the total available seats in Great Britain will qualify for one UK wide broadcast.
These allocations to the main parties in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the UK as a whole are unchanged from the General Elections of 2001 and 2005.
Transmission and Broadcast
Across all broadcasters:
Allocation by Broadcaster and by Nation
Television
England – BBC One, BBC Two and ITV1
Labour 5 broadcasts
Conservative 5 broadcasts
Liberal Democrats 4 broadcasts
Any party which stands in at least one sixth of the parliamentary seats in England (89) will qualify for a broadcast.
Scotland – BBC One, BBC Two and ITV1
Labour 4 broadcasts
Scottish National Party 4 broadcasts
Conservative 4 broadcasts
Liberal Democrats 4 broadcasts
Any party which stands in at least one sixth of the seats in Scotland (10) will qualify for a broadcast.
Wales – BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1 and S4C
Labour 4 broadcasts
Liberal Democrats 4 broadcasts
Conservative 4 broadcasts
Plaid Cymru 4 broadcasts
S4C will carry this series of broadcasts in both Welsh and English. All parties who are eligible for a PEB on S4C will be required to provide a Welsh language version if it is to be broadcast during the peak hours. The English language version in most cases will be broadcast immediately prior to peak hours or as soon as practicable following peak hours.
Any party which stands in at least one sixth of the seats in Wales (7) will qualify for a broadcast.
Northern Ireland – BBC One, BBC Two, and ITV1
DUP 4 broadcasts
Sinn Fein 4 broadcasts
Ulster Unionists 4 broadcasts
SDLP 4 broadcasts
Alliance Party 2 broadcasts
Any party which stands in at least one sixth of the seats in Northern Ireland (3) will qualify for a broadcast.
UK Wide – Channel 4 and Five
Channel 4 and Five do not split transmission between the nations. Any party which stands in at least one sixth of the seats in each of Scotland (10), Wales (7) and England (89) or which stands in at least one sixth (106) of the total available seats in GB will qualify for one UK wide broadcast.
In the case of Channel 4, Plaid Cymru’s allocation will be carried by S4C, according to the separate allocation for Wales (see above). Therefore the allocation on these broadcasters is:
Channel 4
Labour 5 broadcasts
Conservative 5 broadcasts
Liberal Democrats 4 broadcasts
SNP 3 broadcasts
Five
Labour 5 broadcasts
Conservative 5 broadcasts
Liberal Democrats 4 broadcasts
SNP 3 broadcasts
Plaid Cymru 3 broadcasts
A PEB may be allocated where a party does not qualify under the above criteria but can demonstrate that it has substantial levels of current electoral support (taking into account all material circumstances, including opinion polls)
Radio
BBC Radio Scotland, Radio Nan Gaidheal, Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and Radio Ulster
The allocation and thresholds for broadcasts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be the same as that for BBC television.
Radio Cymru will only carry broadcasts in Welsh allocated on the same basis.
Radio Nan Gaidheal will only carry broadcasts in Gaelic allocated on the same basis.
UK wide radio stations
Because radio transmission cannot be fragmented between all the nations some allocations have to be adjusted accordingly.
Virgin, Classic and Talk Sport
Labour 3 broadcasts
Conservative 3 broadcasts
Liberal Democrat 2 broadcasts
SNP 2 broadcasts
Plaid Cymru 2 broadcasts
Any party which stands in at least one sixth (106) of the total available seats in GB will qualify for one UK wide broadcast.