A new Conservative party poster appeared to be backfiring last night as media commentators attacked the ad and a new spoof site was set up to parody the campaign
A new Conservative party poster appeared to be backfiring last night with a range of media commentators attacking the ad and a new spoof site set up to parody the campaign.
Trailed on Conservative Home yesterday, a new posted outlining that, “Now Gordon wants £20,000 when you die” will appear at 18 sites nationwide. But writing on the Spectator’s Coffee House blog, Peter Hoskin describes the poster as “disingenuous”:
Andy Burnham this morning denied the death tax claim with the words, “The Guardian story suggests a £20,000 flat levy. I’m not currently considering that as a lead option for reform.” Sure, the Health Secretary has left himself some wiggle room – he could still introduce the levy. But the fact remains that the death tax isn’t current Labour policy. It may never be. And it’s disingenuous to suggest otherwise.
On politics.co.uk, Alex Stevenson writes that Andrew Lansley’s decision to push the death tax line even after Burnham’s statement was “only a flimsy covering over the scare tactics so keenly seized on by the opposition.” On Sky’s Boulton & Co. Miranda Richardson says, “It seems a somewhat wishy-washy basis on which to campaign.”
Clifford Singer, the man behind the viral MyDavidCameron spoof poster site, quickly launched a MyToryTombstone site. An online generator will be in place soon but in the meantime, the graphically skilled can email their posters to [email protected].
Left Foot Forward doesn't have the backing of big business or billionaires. We rely on the kind and generous support of ordinary people like you.
You can support hard-hitting journalism that holds the right to account, provides a forum for debate among progressives, and covers the stories the rest of the media ignore. Donate today.
37 Responses to “New Tory ad backfires”
Anon E Mouse
Roger – My point is that although you obviously trust this government I most certainly don’t – I’m in the majority by the way.
It seems you believe that this government can spend your money better than you can and you want to pay more tax to them – I don’t. I’m in the majority by the way.
No matter how rude you choose to be, the result at the election will be the same and even as a Labour voter I fully understand why Brown is so unpopular.
If, as I presume you must do, believe Labour’s chances are better served by offering to increase taxes on the population then I have to disagree with you.
Instead of Labour keep messing around with these silly gimmicks they were just honest with the public it would do them far more good.
You know as well as I do that this “long term care for the elderly” is about as credible as Gordon Brown answering a question directly – this current incarnation of Labour needs to be wiped off the political map and a new one can rise from the ashes.
Gordon Brown should have retired for the benefit of the party before the electorate retires him in a couple of months time. It’s just over.
Liz McShane
Anon – re Gordon Brown, public opinion is shifting slightly in his favour as the election looms and people start to realise that the prospect of a Tory Government under Cameron & Osborne et al is not such an attractive option…..
Check out the latest thread on LFF- here is an excerpt from a link on it to Polling UK’s latest analysis..
“Now Gordon Brown’s likeability has increased to 35% (up 6), compared to Labour on 38% (down 1). Cameron’s likeability stands at 45% (down 9), his party 39% (down 3). Not surprisingly given the Conservative lead in the polls has gone from 20 points to 8, Brown is seen as more likeable and Cameron less so than in 2008. However, the shift really does seem to be in how the leaders are seen – how much people like the parties they lead has moved much less.”
Anon E Mouse
Liz – Regarding our last conversation, did you hear today that Gordon Browns “masterful” handling of the economy has resulted in the largest manufacturing decline in Britain since records began in 1948?
I digress.
Just because my favourite blog, LFF, says it’s true doesn’t make it necessarily so – let’s not forget Will’s defence of Gordon Brown (mistakenly) claiming Spain was in the G20.
Despite the enjoyment of seeing Guido with a “D” on his hat that pleasure was unfortunately short lived.
Also a Climate “expert” on this site has made an awful lot of frankly outlandish claims regarding the future of the planet so I’ll reserve judgement on the 35% bit but I’m sure that at her worst Thatcher never reached such unpopularity although I stand to be corrected.
Either way with Labour down another 1% and once again acting in a totally reactive manner to Cameron who is setting the agenda it still is an impossible task.
Tyler
Um….at PMQs today Brown hardly denied the £20,000 death tax.
Then Kerry McCarthy tweeted it was amonsth a rnage of options Labour are looking at.
Whoops.
Roger
Anon – I don’t trust this government – I positively detest Blair, Brown, Mandelson and the whole New Labour project (although not necessarily for all the standard left-wing reasons).
The difference is that while after 13 mostly wasted years New Labour’s feeble reformism is nothing if not a known quantity, the Conservatives are exponentially worse in every possible respect.
Again read the documents – there is now more than enough at the Conservative website and those of Tory thinktanks like Policy Exchange to tell us that we’re facing a radical assault on the fundamental principles of the welfare state.
And how many times do I have to repeat that a range of options in a Green Paper is not a policy – in fact the most important element in the social care bill going through the Lords now was not even listed as an option in the Green Paper and in important respects is incompatible with it – but that didn’t stop Gordon from bouncing it on us at the conference,