American-style attack ads in UK elections

**Chris** · 18-03-2015, 07:48

The Tories are using a loophole in election law to produce American-style attack adverts in the run up to the general election in May. It's still illegal to run these on British TV, but the internets are a free for all. This is their latest:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_DJ64bPBOw

It uses footage of the young Eds in the late 1990s, advising Gordon Brown.

What do we think this adds (if anything) to the debate? Should ads like these be allowed on TV?

**Damien** · 18-03-2015, 08:20

I don't like them. I think the tenor of the adverts leak though into general political discourse and poisons it and we'll end up with the kind of hate fuelled partisanship that you have in America where the other side isn't just wrong but evil. Being encouraged to hate your political opponents isn't healthy and is generally something we've avoided.

Gary L · 18-03-2015, 08:52

Since Dave has been in we have been taught and encouraged to hate each other.

Rich vs The Poor vs The Sick vs The Disabled.
the way to get through life today is by hating one another.
and it's all down to Dave and his nasty party.

**Hugh** · 18-03-2015, 08:56

Actually, Gary, you have been hating people since before Dave came to power....

richard s · 18-03-2015, 09:01

Shows how low some political parties can go.

Gary L · 18-03-2015, 09:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh

Actually, Gary, you have been hating people since before Dave came to power....

That's not true. I used to like everybody before Dave got in and taught us that we're all different and that we are to blame for one thing or another in life.

so now I hate certain people in life because I have had 5 years of teaching and encouragement from Dave.

denphone · 18-03-2015, 09:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard s

Shows how low some political parties can go.

Sadly most of them are stooping pretty low now as they will do anything to get their grubby hands on the levers of power no matter what.

techguyone · 18-03-2015, 10:10

I can't say I'm a huge fan of the 'televised debates' either, everything is coming down to personality and sound-bites rather than substance

TheDaddy · 18-03-2015, 10:56

Political parties should.concentrate on themselves and what they're going to do with power rather than attacking each other, besides it's not a tactic that goes down well with the public, new labour new danger did nothing for the tories as I recall apart from highlight a dearth of their own policies, as for using legal loopholes, that's just ridiculous, it will potentially do them more harm than good, a.double whammy

downquark1 · 18-03-2015, 11:04

Actually I thought that was pretty mild. It stuck to "issues" and was pretty much just "new labour new danger" again.

If it was american style attack ad it would be "Ed Miliband's father was a marxist dog murderer, can you trust Ed Miliband not to put the country down....."

**Maggy** · 18-03-2015, 11:11

Currently listening to PMQs..it's a bear pit..and this election is going to be another bear pit whatever methods they use.

As far as I'm concerned it's a complete turn off.However the reason it's on at the moment is because his nibs loves this crap..it's entertainment to him.

**Damien** · 18-03-2015, 11:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Currently listening to PMQs..it's a bear pit..and this election is going to be another bear pit whatever methods they use.

As far as I'm concerned it's a complete turn off.However the reason it's on at the moment is because his nibs loves this crap..it's entertainment to him.

I like Prime Ministers questions. There is something nice about the fact that the Prime Minster has to enter that environment every week. The commons isn't usually like that but once a week they have a cruelling session like that.

**Chris** · 18-03-2015, 12:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Currently listening to PMQs..it's a bear pit..and this election is going to be another bear pit whatever methods they use.

As far as I'm concerned it's a complete turn off.However the reason it's on at the moment is because his nibs loves this crap..it's entertainment to him.

It's a sign of how free and open a democracy we live in, that the head of our government has to submit to a verbal kicking once a week, every week, for the duration of his term of office. Dictators don't submit to this. For that matter, most democratically elected leaders don't, either.

If nothing else, it ensures our leaders can think on their feet, which has to be a useful skill.

richard s · 18-03-2015, 14:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien

I like Prime Ministers questions. There is something nice about the fact that the Prime Minster has to enter that environment every week. The commons isn't usually like that but once a week they have a cruelling session like that.

What I have seen in the Parliament is hardly any MPs in it. Probably peeing it up in the bar (subsidized by the tax payer).

**Hugh** · 18-03-2015, 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard s

What I have seen in the Parliament is hardly any MPs in it. Probably peeing it up in the bar (subsidized by the tax payer).

You appear to be making stuff up, as this video of today's PMQs shows differently...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31943274