The first two British election broadcasts have been aired on TV - one each for Labour and the Tories, I think the LibDems get their first shot tomorrow night.
Labour's (Tony and Gordon don't hate each other, honest) is at http://www.labour.org.uk/audiovideo
The Tories' (we're not racist, honest, look even some black and Asian people vote for us and we dig groovy alternative britrock as well) is at http://www.tory.org.uk/tile.do?def=news.story.page&obj_id=121733
Both are short on substance but style isn't exactly the word I'd use either.
Just how different is British politics from American? Well the Tories' broadcast makes them look like raving Marxists compared to even some US Democratic pols - compare them with Martin Frost's TV ads for example. No God, guns or (bashing) gays here, but immigration is our particular dirty little issue at the moment.
PS - as a gay man, even I can appreciate that the Asian girl towards the end of the broadcast is [b]extremely[/b] good looking.
NB - in Britain paid TV advertising for political parties is forbidden. Instead parties are given a number of free slots on TV coming up to elections and at odd occasions in between. Not sure of the exact situation and the note on our communications regulator's website isn't specific. But the situation in 2001 was England 4 five minute slots each for Labour and the Tories, 3 for the LibDems, 1 each for parties fielding candidates in more than a sixth of the seats, Scotland and Wales rules are slightly different because of the strength of Scots Nats and Plaid Cymru. Northern Ireland has rather different rules, I think 2 for the big four and 1 for Alliance and anyone else fighting a hand's worth of seats.
The rules for radio are different in detail but the same in essence. No paid advertising but a series of free slots offered on national networks.