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Scarlett. · 03-04-2010, 08:01 PM

Rules about political campaign posters, no. 43: Don’t depict the leader of the opposition as one of the most popular characters on contemporary TV. What were Labour thinking when they depicted David Cameron as Gene Hunt in their latest election poster? Perhaps, as this PA report suggests, they just don”t have the money to develop anything more effective:

Cash-strapped Labour launched the poster competition in a bid to save money on design by tapping into public creativity after a slew of parodies of Tory ads swept the internet. The idea was inspired by campaign techniques used by US president Barack Obama.

Ah, “inspired by Barack Obama”. That old chestnut. Well, there are already two Tory responses to this poster which won’t please David and Ed Miliband, who officially launched it in Essex today. First, the Conservatives’ spoof.

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Second, as showcased by Iain Dale, the Dave-as-Gene Twibbon, which is now gathering momentum on Twitter.

But for those of you who aren’t familiar with Ashes to Ashes, I would recommend watching this trailer on YouTube (complete with a brilliant Spandau Ballet soundtrack), which was released with the second series. And just ask yourselves, would Dave really mind being compared to the no-nonsense, tough-minded, politically incorrect copper, Gene Hunt?

Update. He’s “flattered”, reports the BBC. “I think there will be thousands of people, millions of people, in the country who wish it was the 1980s and that police were out there feeling collars and nicking people instead of filling in forms.” Proof, if it was needed, that this poster has been a gift to the Tory leader.

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