I listened in to a Lib Dem activists’ campaign update last week.
This was a conference call giving news on what’s going on with our election efforts. Afterwards, I had to breathe into a brown paper bag for several minutes to reduce my respiration rate, such was the excitement generated by the call.
An interesting point was made about photo opportunities. The campaign team are adamant about one thing: Nick Clegg will not be photographed being given royal tours of factories, talking to rather stiff and obsequious employees. David Cameron has been specialising in such photo opps recently (see example below).
Instead, Nick will be photographed in amongst people in the community, talking with real people and rolling his sleeves up. A good example of this genre is above. Nick is amongst a community group with people and babies and casual drinks, and it’s lovely and sunny, people are smiling, the candidate is there (Ed Davey, for it is he and it is Surbiton) and there are some lovely orange diamonds in the background. Perfect.
The Daily Mail has picked up on this strategy and features photos of Nick zip-wiring, Nick playing bowls, Nick drinking lemonade, Nick drinking wine, Nick pouring a pint and Nick with a bottle of J2O casually in his hand talking to mothers. And Nick Clegg with Joey Essex. Nick with a cocktail. Nick with a latte. Nick painting with kids. Nick doing gardening. Nick with a wheel. Nick testing the water. There is even a photo of Nick with Humpty the injured hedgehog who keeps walking around in circles (fill in your own allegory).
Come on, commenters. There’s plenty to get your teeth into there!
* Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist and member of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.
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15 Comments
The LibDems are trying hard and the above photo of Clegg and Davey mixing with young families is an attractive one. However, so far the over riding image of the LibDem campaign is the photo call in a empty car park. How that was allowed to happen god knows.
David Cameron orders his coalition Government coat of many colours! 🙂
DC…I know I said I wanted the ‘Rainbow’ but, if you take out the ‘Orange’, that’ll have to go too….
Let’s hope he’s not seen anywhere near a bottle of vodka. With the M launch tomorrow, fitting in an act of contrition photo op with Alcohol Concern will be tight. Tricky business, figurative language.
“The campaign team are adamant about one thing: Nick Clegg will not be photographed being given royal tours of factories, talking to rather stiff and obsequious employees.”
Is this a new policy of not visiting factories, or one of not meeting employees? Or just nonsense?
It’s just that last week Clegg was photographed visiting a factory: http://www.dymag.com/ (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3030388/Petrol-diesel-cars-BANNED-25-years-says-Nick-Clegg-push-drivers-green.html)
I think the point is that they made sure he carried a wheel, which was the photo which got the most prominence. He thus captured the wheel vote.
malc 13th Apr ’15 – 11:10am …… However, so far the over riding image of the LibDem campaign is the photo call in a empty car park. How that was allowed to happen god knows………..
Well at least in an empty car park no-one could ask awkward questions on tuition fees….
“Guardian”…Nick Clegg sends student to stand in for him at Sheffield debate. Nick said he was too busy to attend election hustings in the most student-heavy ward of his Sheffield Hallam constituency, sending a 22-year-old wannabe Lib Dem councillor instead.
Very disappointing that Nick Clegg can’t be bothered to attend a hustings in his own constituency.
Alex B 13th Apr ’15 – 8:06pm
“Very disappointing that Nick Clegg can’t be bothered to attend a hustings in his own constituency.”
It won’t be disappointing for the next (Labour) MP for that constituency.
Alex B, Tsar N, Not a hustings, I think you will find, more like a set up.
The Guardian
Martin
I read the Guardian article and stand by my post.
Tsar Nicholas – Of course. That’s no great surprise. But it was a Labour set-up.
‘ Nick will be photographed in amongst people in the community, talking with real people and rolling his sleeves up.’
All good Focus leaflet stuff!
Martin 13th Apr ’15 – 8:35pm……..Alex B, Tsar N, Not a hustings, I think you will find, more like a set up……………….
Oh dear, do you mean that Nick might have face a ‘hostile audience’…That is what the ‘Hustings’ were supposed to be about not like “Cameron/Osborne’ appearing in high vis jackets with a workforce instructed to stand quietly by….
What ever happened to “Marching towards the sound of gunfire”? More like Monty Python’s “Brave Sir Robin Ran Away”…
Paul Walter: “I think the point is that they made sure he carried a wheel, which was the photo which got the most prominence. He thus captured the wheel vote.”
At last I’m convinced Nick Clegg is a wheel Liberal.
As for this hustings, it’s not surprising a party leader needing to get round the country supporting his party’s candidates can’t attend every hustings in his constituency. Most constituencies will feature several hustings.