Iain Dale has seen the Tory logo future, and it’s… scribbled.
Some months ago I was sat in a pub in Bath, with a friend who was hovering on the brink of becoming a Liberal Democrat party member. He’s on board with our policies, believes in personal liberty, cherishes civil rights. A natural Lib Dem. “There is just one thing I wish you guys would change, though”, “what’s that?”, “your stupid logo – what’s that all about, then? it’s been around for ages.”
Libby. The Bird of Liberty. In her day she was young, thin, and beautiful, then time passed and she put on weight, and there were even rumours she had passed on.
Ed Davey is creating a Liberal Democrats “communications agency” of ad men and women, and marketeers. Put two or more marketing people in a room together and their minds will turn to thoughts of logos, so I fully expect the communications agency will turn their attention to ‘horizon scanning a comprehensive realignment of the Liberal Democrat brand identity as part of a marketing and communications strategy aimed to be synergetic with the 25th century’.
The Conservatives have their torch and tree, Labour have the rose. Both of them like squares too.
I’ve never been a fan of hunting, but if Libby is to be shot – what would you replace her with? Feel free to write suggestions in the box below, or in the private forum. If you go so far as to draw something and want to share it with the world, is the place to go 
28 Comments
‘what would you replace her with?’
Good question, I’ve never liked the bird because it looks too Christian…food for thought though…
Never mind the logo. That name’s got to go; it’s utterly dated. The party should be re-branded as “Libertas” at the earliest possible juncture.
It looks Christian? I thought our friends in the church were more in to fish?
Christian, presumably in the sense of doves? Cf St Francis of Assisi and Noah.
I’ve heard it referred to as the Snake in the Grass.
Perhaps we should adopt a stringray – harmless unless provoked.
Enters the colesium watching out for lions being let loose by teh assembled masses.
The dove is far more than a Christian symbol or else I doubt they would have bee released at the start of the Moscow Olympics.
Dove = Peace
Dove in flight = Liberty
No if you want u sto have a harder hitting image what do you want?
an eagle – too American (and best not a bald eagle or people might point back to the leadership candidates)
a lion – whoops don’t mention Milwall
a stingray – juxtoposition means we might be accused of being a puppet on a string I can see the PPBs now
I believe Evan will be proposing a red flag at conference
This so called “communications agency” seems to be a farce. I, and several other people I know in the communications industry, have registered an interest and heard nothing.
“I believe Evan will be proposing a red flag at conference” – now now, play nicely
Richard – suggest you email me details (m.pack AT libdems.org.uk) as I’ve checked through all the registrations of interest we got via the form on the party’s website and I can’t see your name anywhere in the list. Which could explain why haven’t heard anything
The bird is fine and doesn’t need to be changed. We may not be storming the barricades but we are also not in crisis so we don’t need to change the name or the bird.
And ‘Libertas’?! Lets ensure we nab the classical scholars vote, eh?
Liberal Democrats is what we are, so why not call ourselves, er, Liberal Democrats?
Apologies, I wasn’t being entirely serious!
Paul – damn. I had a logo made, as well as merchandise:
http://rfenwick.fotopic.net/p17063502.html
If you’re going to stick with an animal why not some native British creature? Like the squirrel?:P
The grey squirrel is an aggressive American import and the native red squirrel is an endangered species, which image do you prefer?
Maybe we could have the two. Living in harmony. Diverse and equal.
Ah, right. Taking it a bit too seriously was I?!
This is probably apocryphal but the Labour party apparently asked the bloke who thought of the name “Hobnobs” to come up with a new name for the Labour party. After a lot of thought he came back with the suggestion: “Liberal Democrats”.
Actually your friend sounds like ideal LibDem member material, Rob – in the nicest possible way, good Liberals seem to worry about details and minutiae that never trouble the consciousness of normal people.
Squirrel eat acorns.
Acorns grow into oaks.
Oaktree new Tory symbol.
I can see the merits in a Squirrel. However, Nigel does have a point about which one we would go for.
@ nigelashton, neither, I’d prefre the Black Adder.;)
I’m quite worried by the fact I like the Tory squiggly tree….
*whisper* – you are not alone….
Haha! So will you guys be holding a coming out party then?
Rob – try the Pulteney Arms, their giant Youkshire Puddings with chips and gravy are legendary. And the beer is good (although I haven’t been since Terry retired).
Ooooh no, the tory tree is yucky – at first I didn’t even see the treeishness of it, just the scribble of a retarded 3 year old – quite fitting for LabourLite really……
As Andy Crick says, why are we bothered? LabLite have been forced into a rebranding crisis due to horrendous identity probles, like during the creation of NuLab in the 90s.
WE are not in meltdown. We know who we are and where we are going (well, as much as LDs ever do), so why get hung up about it?
Vote for the Bird!
My three year old daughter loves the bird as well. She wears it with pride. If I get time today I’ll put a photo on my blog to show you what I mean.
Leave Libby alone! She’s lovely!
When we changed from the thin bird to the fatter one it was easy to remember which bird was the new one by the slogan “new fat bird, new fat leader”.
We’ve got a new leader since then…
The last comment just opens up a terrible new can of worms.