Tories launch personal political broadcast
David Cameron stars alongside members of the public in party political broadcast
Wednesday, 19, Apr 2006 12:00
Members of the public play a starring role in the Conservatives' political broadcast this evening, as the party reinforces its eco-friendly and everyman message.
Labour went for a personal attack on Tory leader David Cameron with 'Dave the chameleon' in their local election broadcast last night, warning that although the Witney MP may pretend to be green, he is blue through and through.
However, he has responded with a series of video diaries on what people want their local council to do, with eco-friendly transport, recycling, graffiti and littering all highlighted as issues of concern ahead of the May 4th polls.
Like Labour, who made the bicycle-riding chameleon the subject of their broadcast, the Tories have used animation, but this time the cartoons are used to show how Tory councils across the UK are taking action.
Bromley council is using cooking oils from local restaurants to power local authority and hospital vehicles, for example, while Barnet council makes graffiti artists clean up after themselves.
Mr Cameron then makes an appearance, claiming: "If you want to improve your environment, better parks and public spaces and cleaner streets, then vote Conservative.
"Those are my priorities – those are the priorities of the Conservative party. And remember, if you vote blue, you can go green."
The broadcast, which will be screened this evening, is the final phase of the Tories' local election campaign, and its focus on green issues complements months of talk about how the party is serious about tackling the environment.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Cameron highlighted three main planks of the local election campaign – lower council taxes, more efficient services, and revived local democracy.
But, he said, the party was focusing on an issue that "is arousing real passion in communities all over Britain" – the environment.
"It's an issue that has to be dealt with in the round. From climate change to cleaner streets, from cutting waste to cutting noise pollution, environmental issues are all about improving our quality of life," he said.
"These issues are connected by a simple instinct – to protect and enhance the world around us, an instinct that has been at the heart of Conservatism for generations."