Tory poster to mark the non-election

David Cameron will give a speech tomorrow in his constituency to mark the day that should have been a General Election.  Ben Brogan also has this poster which the Tories have launched to mark the non-election.  Clever.  It follows yesterday's All Trick, No Treat poster stunt.

11pm: A number of commenters below - Chad Noble first - have noted a stupid error in this poster.  The poster promises that "A vote on the European Constitution" has been delayed until the election of a Conservative Government.  This is not, of course, Tory policy with Hague and Cameron both refusing to say whether the party will grant a referendum should the Treaty be ratfied.  I'm sure someone at CCHQ will find a lawyerly way of wriggling out of this poster gaffe but this will draw more attention to an issue that is likely to cause some discomfort for the party in coming months.

Comments

[John]

Great stuff - do you know where it's intended to appear? Newspapers presumably, but which ones?

[Editor]

I really don't know John but it might be an internet only poster.

[Edison Smith]

I like that poster, very good!

Kind of like the old public information posters from WWII, which I guess is the point.

Tomorrow must mark the last day of highlighting Brown's pull out though. We don't want the electorate to think it's the only thing the Tories can hang him with.

[Andrew Woodman]

Good poster, but I would agree tomorrow should be the last day we make a big issue of it, or else we look obsessed.

[Voice from the South West]

Brilliant! I only wish I could have the time to distribute some of this around my local wards, I think it would really hit home.

[Chad Noble]

Fantastic news. Unequivocal confirmation that the Tories will offer a vote on the European constitution once they have been elected:

The following services are affected:
A vote on the European Constitution

These services are now *delayed until*
the election of a Conservative government

A vote on the European Constitution delayed until the election of a conservative government.

Finally confirmed in black and white!

Hoohah!

[RedSam]

Traditional Tory voters will love it - they remember when those style posters were up the first time around...

[michael mcgough]

'A vote on the European Constitution' has been delayed until the election of a Conservative Government'

This is as phoney as Labour's 2005 manifesto promise.

[NickL]

Naughty question, but is this promising a vote on the European constitution when the Conservative government arrives?

[Scotty]

Great poster, really hits home.

[Comstock]

Disappointing the fact that your best idea (Citizens Service) has had 'National' stuck in front of it to appeal to the Daily Mail demographic.

[Editor]

Very good spot Chad, Michael M, NickL! CCHQ will be working on their escape strategy as we write!

[John Leonard]

Chad:

Fully agree with you! I just hope it wasn't a mistake and we see them backtracking on it?

No doubt it will cause discussion so we will likely not have to wait too long......

[David]

"Disappointing the fact that your best idea (Citizens Service) has had 'National' stuck in front of it to appeal to the Daily Mail demographic"

Yeah. Without the damn Daily Mail, it would have been the Health Service, rather than the disappointingly named National Health Service.

[John Leonard]

BBC are having their own 'election' seeing as Gordon has spoiled everybody's 'fun'

BBC Poll

[IRJMilne]

I think its a damn good poster. I think the list of policies needed to have been just a bit more convincing. I personally think that the "National Citizen Service" is half baked, and that we should either have a proper National Service scheme, civil or military, or not. But that may just be me. The poster is well designed and the Churchill-era feel comes across as very decent and moderate.

They should have taken a page ad out in the Telegraph - even in the current Telegraph climate I'm sure they'd have given them it at a discount. Good way to boost troop morale etc. Never mind.

[Dick Wishart]

Just great, have just printed on off to put in office window tomorrow.

[Chad Noble]

No-one can argue that this statement was made believing an election was about to take place!

It could not be clearer.

We now have it in writing and backed up as an officially branded Conservative Party release.

It's going to be messy if(more likely when) Cameron or Hague seek to renege now!

[Comstock]

"Just great, have just printed on off to put in office window tomorrow."

Little tip from personal experience- never, ever, ever take politics into the workplace.

[Richard Carey]

Little tip from personal experience- never, ever, ever take politics into the workplace.

I'm presuming, Comstock, that Dick is ensuring it's placed predominantly in his Conservative Association's office window. On your broader point, however, I'm not secretive about my political affiliations, and am not worried at all by a predictable amount of good-natured stick from my work colleagues. You'd better believe I can give as good (or better) as I get on that one!!

It's going to be messy if(more likely when) Cameron or Hague seek to renege now!

Oh dear - we have a good, fun ad, and still the euro-nutters are on their single-track rampage. I don't see a change here. Knock it off, please. It could be messy? We're talking about the likes of you, Chad. And whose army, exactly? Remind me, please...

[Mark Fulford]

I think most people will be happy to see the poster is making a point, not a promise.

As for Newnight's election, I don't suppose they'll be very happy with this on their own site:

VOTE RESULTS

Conservative 57.14%
Green Party 1.73%
Labour 14.72%
Lib Dem 18.61%
Plaid Cymru 0.43%
Respect 0.43%
SNP 0.87%
UKIP 3.03%
Other 3.03%

[rah]

No one could reasonably construe the poster as indicating that a retrospective vote would be held on the European Constitution once ratified, let alone committing to that. But then there is no such thing as "the European Constitution" anyway.

[Euro-nutter]

"Naughty question, but is this promising a vote on the European constitution when the Conservative government arrives?"

Indeed - What are the six if's? (And will their be ands and buts to follow?):

http://www.westbournemouthukip.com/toons.htm

[Yet Another Anon]

also has this poster which the Tories have launched to mark the non-election. Clever.
Except that going on to promise something which is not party policy is rather shooting themselves in the foot and could lead to other parties bringing out their own versions having a go at the Conservatives. Somewhat careless.

Of course the Conservatives could promise a referendum on the constitution if they won, and go further and promise a vote on whether the UK should withdraw from the EU or indeed just take the UK out without a vote, although I imagine the Eurofanatics would make that impossible.

[Chad Noble]

LoL Richard Carey!

It is a good fun ad, I agree. I like it. But just because it is fun, I guess it still has to be, um, truthful?

If one is untrue, then why trust the rest etc, etc.

That said it is consistent with the 'cast iron' guarantee that 'General' Dan Hannan is rightly (judge them on their words and pledges) but perhaps vainly holding Cameron to.

We've got quite an army you know, waiting for Cameron to renege... ;-)

[Comstock]

Richard Carey (on politics in the workplace) "You'd better believe I can give as good (or better) as I get on that one!!"

Yes Richard, and it's the 'giving as good as you get' bit that can get you into trouble when some snitch decides to 'tell' on you to the boss.

Trust me, it ain't worth losing your job over. In a way I wish it were.

But I'm not bitter. Much. :D

[MHDH]

It's rather PR-spin smug if you ask me. Whilst everyone is getting terribly excited about Brown v. Cameron, does anyone think that the public at large gives a monkeys? I think we're looking at another very low turnout.

[James Maskell]

A Vote on the Constitution...now while I disagree with Brown about the necessity of a referendum on this Treaty, Id think it sensible if we didnt confuse the public by calling it by a different name. Please CCHQ, just call if the Reform Treaty. Calling it the Constitution is likely to confuse. The truth is, literally, they are not the same.

Its the Reform Treaty, not the Constitution.

[Roger Thornhill]

I do like this poster. It has a "1940's Tube" feel about it.

It would be right at home with the latest report; "Bacon rations to be cut"...

[michael mcgough]

The Reform Treaty taken with all earlier treaties is the EU Constitution so where is the confusion?

[James Maskell]

The Constitution to which this referendum is proposed is for the document, not the general framework. If it was about the entire constitutional set up through all the treaties, it would be a vote on membership. The Conservatives havent proposed a referendum on the entire framework, just the Reform Treaty. Calling it the Constitution when it is not the same could lead to confusion.

The Reform treaty is not the same document as the failed Constitution.

[michael mcgough]

That poster is perfectly clear;
"A vote on the European Constitution"
not "A vote on the Reform Treaty"

Surely all those well educated ,highly paid people at CCHQ can't be wrong.

James ;"the entire constitutional set up"

is the Constitution SURELY?

Apart from a few 'trivials' like flag,anthem and ministerial titles etc what is the difference between the already rejected document called the Constitution and the Reform Treaty amending and thus taken with the original treaties.

If CCHQ have got it wrong then let them say so.Remember;
EPP TODAY ---GONE TOMORROW.

[Editor]

The advert has appeared in The Times, Birmingham Post and London evening Standard.

[Chad Noble]

Well the Conservatives.com article on this poster adds that Cameron will be giving a speech this afternoon, so I'm sure he'll use the opportunity to confirm the clear pledge in the poster and reaffirm his 'cast iron' commitment to a post-ratification referendum.

[John Leonard]

It looks like left wing thinkers want to make a series of this poster. The next in the series can be:

CHRISTMAS HAS BEEN CANCELLED

And when Labour ratify the EU Treaty the next without a referendum.

DEMOCRACY HAS BEEN CANCELLED

Followed some months later when the EU starts rubbing out the 'red lines'

PARLIAMENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED

Finally, when the regional structure is imposed on England.

ENGLAND HAS BEEN CANCELLED

;o)

[Scotty]

"I'm sure he'll use the opportunity to confirm the clear pledge in the poster and reaffirm his 'cast iron' commitment to a post-ratification referendum."

Can you please change the record, its boring and petty! Particularly in light of the fact that you were quite happy to campaign to keep this Labour government for another term in the hope of getting rid of Cameron. So why are you harping on about a poster put out by the opposition, when it is the very government you wanted to keep in power who signed the treaty whilst denying us a referendum!!!
Your attempts to use the issue of the EU negatively against the only main party which is Eurosceptic are very transparent.

I would have thought that a manifesto commitment to a referendum on the Constitution was a 'cast iron' pledge, instead you are scrabbling around desperately trying to pin that charge on the Conservative party before they print the manifesto or the debate is held in Parliament.

[Chad Noble]

Do keep up Scotty!

Cameron was running an imbalanced 'uber' agenda, was 11% behind in the polls, the Spectator ran a cover with a noose around his neck, if Brown had called an early election, Cameron would be out of a job now, but then balance was struck at the conference, and he has been, on the whole, doing very well since and is beginning to make the Tories look like a force to sweep away Brown etc.

My position on the EU referendum is no different from Dan Hannan's.

Cameron has unequivocally pledged a post-ratification referendum, with annoys no-one but the handful of integrationists in the party who are very vocal here, but very out of step with both the mood in the country, and the party's official position.

So, as long as Cameron's doesn't renege on his 'cast iron' pledge, he has a real chance of forming the next government.

The alternative is just too messy to contemplate and we repeat it here, as we want to ensure there is no deviation from the pledged path!

[Scotty]

Chad, as always, your make up as you go along.

[Chad Noble]

No, I always do my make-up before I leave the house Scotty. It avoids smudges... ;-)

[Dick Wishart]

Yes I did put it up, not in the Association office window, but outside where it was seen by all, first though I blew it up to A3 size for more effect.
It was read and very much liked by all who saw it.

[Moral minority]

"The advert has appeared in The Times, Birmingham Post and London evening Standard."

Not in the Yorkshire Post, Western Daily Mail, Scotsman or Herald?

There are swing voters and constituencies to won north of Birmingham. Wake up CCHQ!

[Poll Alert]

5th Parish poll taking place today at Saint Illogan in Cornwall:

http://www.westbournemouthukip.com/main.html

[name]

A shame they didn't include abolishing the ID card scheme.

[James Maskell]

Well spotted name.

michael mcgough, those differences you noticed are the differences that make it a different document. It may suit our poltical objectives to say they are the same document but the truth is that they are not the same document, as you admit in your post. The two documents are very similar, thats a cert, but they are not the same. Yes Im taking this literally, but with a legally binding document like this you have to.