#GE2015 – Campaigns of the Election
You would have to be living on mars not to have realised that the General Election is just under a week away. Billed as the UK’s first ‘social media election’, this year has seen political parties embrace place social media and PR at the heart of their campaigning. Here’s our round up of the five highlights and low points of the General Election stunts and campaigns so far:
1. The Green Party Change The Tune Video
Some people loved this, others thought it was just odd. But it was certainly different. Personally, I loved this light hearted spoof video, showing viewers how The Green Party differs from its competitors.. It was good to see the Greens do something a bit different: Greens video
2. Ed Balls Day
Though this isn’t an actual political campaign, it’s undoubted that the Labour politician’s accidental tweet has stirred up a lot of discussion. Wednesday 28th April 2015 marked four whole years since Balls tweeted: Ed Balls and set the internet alight
3. Political “Bants”
One Tory poster showed a pic of Ed Miliband in the pocket of Alex Salmond. This attracted a great response from UKIP’s Farage, who then tweeted a spoof poster of David Cameron snuggled up in Jean-Claude Juncker’s blazer.
There has been plenty of social media spats and campaign-slurring going on amongst all parties, with many obviously engineered and controlled by PR and social media teams.
4. Fake posters
Outspending the Labour party three-to-one on their campaign, the Tories have taken a traditional approach, using billboards and posters to get their message across. However the Tory party’s “On The Road to Recovery” poster attracted criticism for using a German road as the background…
The Conservatives aren’t the only ones to try poster trickery – UKIP’s deputy leader was pictured posing in a fake library – eek!
5. Interviews
This year more than ever, political leaders are engaging in online Q&As,TV interviews and debates and the people of Twitter are watching These people are no longer closeted in the cabinet: they’re celebrities. Ed Miliband’s interview with Russell Brand, which was posted on YouTube, and the Green Party’s Natalie Bennett’s car crash radio interview with Nick Ferrari are just a couple of highlights. The importance placed on the public appearance of political leaders shows just how big a part likeability and accessibility will play in this election.
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