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Saatchi & Saatchi say “Labour isn't working”

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Saatchi & Saatchi has not only announced that they won't be backing the Labour Party for this year's general election, but expect the Conservatives to win. CEO Robert Senior said that, though the agency handled the advertising for Labour's campaign during the last election, they wouldn't be returning for round two this year, which sees perpetually po-faced leader Ed Milliband up against current Conservative prime minister David Cameron and his Liberal lapdog Nick Clegg, as well as new kid on the block, Nigel (Admiral Akbar) Firage and the right wing goon squad collectively known as UKIP. Saatchi & Saatchi ran the unsuccessful reelection campaign for Gordon Brown's Labour party in 2007, but in the time since, it would appear the agency and the party have fallen out of favour with one another.

Saatchi & Saatchi has announced that they won't be backing the Labour Party for this year's general election

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Senior, who took the top role at Saatchi & Saatchi at the tail end of last summer, effectively stated that the agency were not interested in the Labour gig because his agency simply didn't believe in the party anymore or believe in its policies. He told The Telegraph; “In political advertising, just like any advertising but even more so, the team has to believe in the cause and what it is pushing and it’s a very different beast now.” He also said that he thinks there are plenty of other things the agency should be focusing on now besides politics, and that whilst he is “Very interested in observing as this election plays out,” he's also “Not very interested in getting involved,” so presumably this also means S&S won't be lending its services to any competing parties either.

Saatchi & Saatchi CEO Robert Senior feels that Labour's focus on the NHS won't be enough to claim victory

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Senior feels that Labour's focus on the NHS won't be enough to claim victory, and even went so far as to say he believes the upcoming election could very well be one of the “Most boring in history,” and will have “An incredibly low turnout because it will have bored the country into submission.” Ouch! He also cast an unfavourable opinion over the Liberal Democrats, who he predicted would descend into “Obsolescence” under the timid hand of Cleggy. On both points I hasten to agree. One thing I don't agree with, however, is Senior's opinions on who will take the election this May. He said; “There’s a void and a moment in time to create fresh political narrative but this election, however, will be fought,” and in his opinion, ”Won by the Conservatives on the basis of what George Osborne refers to as chaos and competence or, put another way, on the staples of the economy and personality.”

Saatchi ran the campaign's for all three of Margaret Thatcher's election victories, including the bold and iconic “Labour Isn't Working” campaign for the 1979 general election

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There is actually a notable history between Saatchi & Saatchi and the Conservative Party. It ran the campaign's for all three of Margaret Thatcher's election victories, with the iconic “Labour Isn't Working” campaign for the 1979 general election a particularly memorable moment for the firm. M&C Saatchi, the firm founder by founding brothers Charles and Maurice Saatchi in the mid 90's, also designed the classic “New Labour, New Danger” poster for the 1997 election, which featured Tony Blair sporting a pair of demonic eyes (how prophetic).

Benjamin Hiorns is a freelance writer and struggling musician from Kidderminster in the UK. He is still undecided as to which box his tick will end up this year, but is open to bribes if anyone out there is particularly desperate for his vote.

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