Saatchi applies for election advertising contract

The Independent's Pandora column reports that the company owned by Lord Saatchi is planning to run another general election advertising campaign for the Conservatives. It's far from a done deal though, as well as overcoming any lingering personal difficulties M&C Saatchi will have to beat off competition from big-player WCRS.

The company's relationship with the party goes back to when Thatcher hired it in opposition, but its future looked bleak after the party had to pay between £769,000 and £2.9m to Saatchi's companies when he was the Party Co-Chairman. Especially since he criticised the very campaign that he was being paid for after the 2005 election, and has been openly critical of Cameron's strategy since.

Saatchi has also had falling outs in the past with two men who are very powerful in Cameron's Conservatives, his protege Steve Hilton and Lord Ashcroft.

His latest personal project is writing a book on anti-Americanism.

Deputy Editor

Comments

[michael]

"a bit much" ?!

If he believed on conservatism as he claims and is as rich as is claimed, then he hardly showed it after fleecing us in 2005.

[Les]

I too was astonished by the kerfuffle over Saatchi's fees following the last election.

The final bill seemed to come as a complete surprise to those who actually aspired to run the country.

Whomever is appointed, let's hope that the present Conservative leadership can manage to fix the terms of the contract in advance.

[Father Brian]

I would have thought the current Conservative Party would want to put the hard-right Saatchi era far behind it. There must be some nice touchy-feely advertising agency more in tune with Cameron's tampon Tories.

It would be nice to think that the terms of such agreements are settled in advance but it can't be taken for granted. We are, after all, talking about politicians!

[Deputy Editor]

Sounds like Karmarama Father, they did sort-it.co.uk etc for the party.

[Les]

Tampon Tories!!!

Has Prince Charles joined the party?

[Father Brian]

Indeed they did, and they feature the campaign prominently on their web site. Unfortunately the "tosser" aspect backfired on the party, as I recall.

[Think about it]

..and the campaign itself has gone bust long before the 'tossers' with credit cards have.

The site was lying dead until recently where it now simply redirects to conservatives.com.

How long did that Cameron campaign last for? Just a few weeks, until the headlines died down eventhough personal debt is an even bigger issue today than it was six months ago.

No wonder people question Cameron's honesty.

[Traditional Tory]

If he believed on conservatism as he claims and is as rich as is claimed, then he hardly showed it after fleecing us in 2005.

So how do you suppose he became rich in the first place?

Who was behind the 'tosser' ad? If Saatchi then I'm afraid he has lost his touch.

[Think about it]

No, Trad T it was Karmarama as noted above and Dave went on TV to defend its long-term importance.

..then quietly closed it down a few weeks later.

[GS]

Saatchi's an old man, out-of-date and out-of-touch.

[Traditional Tory]

No, Trad T it was Karmarama

Thanks. Kamakazi might be more appropriate.

Anybody know how much they paid for that moronic variant on the 'ace caff' theme?

[Tony Makara]

It is in the national interest that those who can end Labour's grip on power, come together, put aside any differences, and work towards the common objective of getting a Conservative government. Our country cannot afford another five years of statism.

[Traditional Tory]

It is in the national interest that those who can end Labour's grip on power, come together, put aside any differences

Group hug everybody.

Seriously, though, I think things have got to the stage where you may need the services of Murder Inc. rather than Lord Saatchi.

Do an Alan B'stard and leave it till election day. Then take the Godfather Option.

[jorgen]

"It is in the national interest that those who can end Labour's grip on power, come together, put aside any differences, and work towards the common objective of getting a Conservative government."

Sure, no problem. All it takes is a new leader - a Conservative one this time.

[Peter Hatchet]

Forget Saatchi. Frankly, he's got an inflated ego and he's only in it for himself.

Also, his advertising slogans are pretty mediocre - they all seem to have been based on a variation of: "Labour isn't working" - such as "Let down by Labour?" etc. - there's no creativity there.

Let's try someone new.

[Think about it]

"Our country cannot afford another five years of statism."

Spot on Tony. Which is why I could not vote for *any* party that supports getting rid of independent political parties ro replace them with state-funded vehicles.

Labour and the LibDems are never likely to oppose state-funded (thus controlled) political parties, however, I am hoping that the next Tory leader will.

[Deputy Editor]

Can we not get personal about this please?

Fwiw, I thought the "inner tosser" campaign was excellent.

[Les]

Peter Hatchet writes:

//Forget Saatchi. Frankly, he's got an inflated ego and he's only in it for himself//.

Unlike most senior-level politicians who couldn't care a 4X for personal advancement

//Also, his advertising slogans are pretty mediocre//

How about some suggestions for positive (rather than simply anti-Labour) advertising slogans.

For example,

Cameron is Cool, Cuddly and Conservative (two out of three can't be bad)

[Think about it]

"Fwiw, I thought the "inner tosser" campaign was excellent."

So why did they close it down so quickly?

[Les]

//Fwiw, I thought the "inner tosser" campaign was excellent."

So why did they close it down so quickly?//

Another failed IT project

[Oberon Houston]

I think after the 2005 debacle we would be mad to hire Saatchi, especially after the nonsense he wrote in that pamphlet.

Daily Telegraph Letters Page: 21 June 2005
Saatchi's contribution

Sir - Your editorial comments (Leader, June 20) about the latest paper from Lord Saatchi are unfair. Over the past few years, Lord Saatchi has consistently produced more astute strategic thoughts for the Conservative Party than has anyone else.

This latest paper simply says the Tories must focus on a central product proposition (the morality of individualism, independence and self-determination) for the Tory "brand". Such a proposition would be underpinned by radical taxation changes.

Fawltyesque? I think not. I would urge the Tory party to pay attention to his remark about "the fiction of focus groups, which can tell you what people are thinking, but not what you should be thinking". This, I suspect, has been the real reason for the party's problems during recent elections.
Ron Whelan, London W1

Sir - Lord Saatchi's assertion that the Conservative Party lost the election because its policy was wrong is nonsense. The policy was right.

The Conservatives lost the election because they failed to convince a critical mass of moderate conservative voters that they truly believed in their own manifesto.

This assertion is supported by his recent comments, his bizarre pamphlet, and his open support of Howard Flight, who caused immense damage to Michael Howard's campaign when it was at its most vulnerable.
Oberon Houston, Aberdeen

[Moral minority]

It amazing that the Deputy Editor liked the "inner tosser" campaign. It was tacky, downmarket and brought the good name of the Conservative Party into disrepute. The real "tossers within" were those who developed and approved the campaign.

[Deputy Editor]

I seem to be the only person who ever liked it!

It was brilliantly executed and the issue it was aiming at is one of the most pressing in the country (the culture of debt, pressures to spend beyond means). It was a shame that the use of the word "tosser" derailed it.

Hopefully we'll see more such targeted campaigns that use the internet and get outside the confines normal Tory messages and audiences.

[Think about it]

I have an inkling that most people who have little option but to live off their cards, don't like to be called tossers.

I bet you find 'tesco' more often than 'fendi' etc on their card statements.

The campaign was the brainchild of Hilton and at the time 5 or 6 more videos (drugs, homelessness etc) were promised by Karmarama, but then quietly the sort-it campaign was shut down.

[michael mcgough]

Who came up with 'Labour isn't working'?
That worked!

[jorgen]

Most people I know thought Cameron was the one who should fight his "inner tosser" of wanting to spend other peoples money.

[Peter Hatchet]

Deputy Editor: People get incredibly personal - and rude - about Cameron all the time. On unsubstantiated accusations about his background and motives. You don't seem to question that; probably because its so endemic you'd spend your whole time doing it.

I have said Saatchi has an inflated ego as he feels he's so important he can mouth off in public against Cameron, expect to be listened to AND then have the audacity to expect to be awarded an advertising contract.

What sort of "advert" does he think he's been putting out for Camerons Conservatives over the last 2 years?

I think his behaviour is a disgrace.

His advertising campaigns were also very disappointing. The last good one was 1992. Unfortunately I thought the "inner tosser" campaign was also painfully embarassing and bizarre, and judging by how long it lasted, so did everyone else.

[Oberon Houston]

I agree with you Peter. Saatchi is not in-touch with the mood of the Country just now and he lets his prejudices spoil campaign messaging. They also frequently have a 'nasty' edge to them and can be easily misconstrued as reflecting worse on the Conservative party that the focus of the message. I frequently donate money to the party, but I won’t if he gets the contract.

[DavisFan]

We need lots of Lord Saatchi's influence over the Party's economic policy again. After all, if we don't stand for high-gain if risky deficit-financed tax policies, what do we stand for?

[Patsy Sergeant]

I absolutely agree with Oberon Houston and Peter Hatchet about Saatchi. Surely if DC is intent on impressing the public that his is a new approach, the last person (expensive person) that he should be employing is a yesterday's man, like many men who are 'getting on' (the presenter of 'Who wants to be a Millionaire' springs to mind) they don't realise that time has passed - moved on, and they are not in tune with current trends. AND if he was 'hired' and used a younger teams ideas wouldn't that just double the fee?? Waste of money!!

[malcolm]

We don't owe any loyalty to Saatchi. Sure let him pitch if he wants. Demand to see his creative ideas and if they're better than everyone elses, fine, employ him, if they're not, don't.
Advertising trade press reporting that Kamerama are still employed by the Conservative party and producing work on 'social issues'.

[Matt Wright]

Whatever ads we use need to be practical and easily understood by the public,

Matt