The general election has got off to a strong start already. While the official advertising campaigns are yet to be revealed, both the Conservatives and Labour have been busy making sure they are hitting the right note with their upcoming communications plans.
Notably, the two parties have taken quite different approaches at this early stage in the contest.
While MP Rishi Sunak has been busy making the Conservative Party’s first policy announcement of the general election campaign, others within the party have been prioritising making sure the online shop is fully stocked.
As a result, the first Conservative advert of the 2024 general election campaign is an attack ad, poking fun at Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and accusing him of having ‘flip-flop’ opinions as he is compared to a toy doll.
The ad says Starmer has ‘no conviction’, ‘disposable views’ and claims that ‘he can be anything’.
No conviction, no plan, no refunds. pic.twitter.com/emUIZp7QzB
— Conservatives (@Conservatives) May 24, 2024
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The spoof advert says that the Starmer doll ‘comes in every colour!’, poking fun at his changing alliances and policy U-turns over the years. Three versions are available; ‘Eco’, ‘Remain’ and ‘Corbyn’.
Each of the dolls are listed on the online shop for the bargain price of £35.8bn (the amount the Tories have calculated to be the cost of Labour’s unfunded election spending promises).
In addition to the spoof items, a real selection of anti-Labour products are available on the Tories’ online store, such as Keir Starmer flip flops (£16.99) and a set of ‘Top Trumped By The Unions’ playing cards (£11.98).
Over at Labour HQ, however, the message is rather more serious, with the opposition’s first advert launching on YouTube just days after the general election announcement was made.
Opening with Sir Keir Starmer saying “It’s time for change”, the Labour leader goes on to list a number of key pledges in the 90-second ad, before closing with: “Stop the chaos, turn the page, it’s time to rebuild”.
It’s a markedly different approach from the two parties, although how dirty this particular campaign will get is anyone’s guess.
