This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31079026
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| General election 2015: Labour promises 'no PM pictures' | General election 2015: Labour promises 'no PM pictures' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Labour has vowed not to feature Prime Minister David Cameron on billboards ahead of the general election. | Labour has vowed not to feature Prime Minister David Cameron on billboards ahead of the general election. |
| The party said it would not use negative personal campaigning, focusing on issues rather than personalities. | The party said it would not use negative personal campaigning, focusing on issues rather than personalities. |
| Opposition election strategist Douglas Alexander said the Conservatives were preparing to spread "fear and smear". | Opposition election strategist Douglas Alexander said the Conservatives were preparing to spread "fear and smear". |
| Meanwhile, Ed Miliband has faced criticism from a leading business chief who said a Labour government would be a "catastrophe" for the UK. | Meanwhile, Ed Miliband has faced criticism from a leading business chief who said a Labour government would be a "catastrophe" for the UK. |
| Stefano Pessina, acting chief executive of Boots, said in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph that Mr Miliband's plans were "not helpful for business, not helpful for the country and in the end, it probably won't be helpful for them". | Stefano Pessina, acting chief executive of Boots, said in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph that Mr Miliband's plans were "not helpful for business, not helpful for the country and in the end, it probably won't be helpful for them". |
| He did not elaborate on which specific policies of the party he disliked but told the newspaper: "If they acted as they speak, it would be a catastrophe." | He did not elaborate on which specific policies of the party he disliked but told the newspaper: "If they acted as they speak, it would be a catastrophe." |
| Labour's pledge on posters follows the 2010 election campaign, in which it used Mr Cameron's face on a number of billboards and also online. | Labour's pledge on posters follows the 2010 election campaign, in which it used Mr Cameron's face on a number of billboards and also online. |
| In one, he was shown as TV detective Gene Hunt alongside the message: "Don't let him take Britain back to the 1980s". | In one, he was shown as TV detective Gene Hunt alongside the message: "Don't let him take Britain back to the 1980s". |
| The image was later rebranded by the Conservatives with the slogan: "Fire up the Quattro, it's time for change." | |
| In a message to party members, shadow foreign secretary Mr Alexander wrote: "The Tories have now bought up hundreds of billboard poster sites on high streets across the country for the months of March and April to run their negative personalised adverts. | In a message to party members, shadow foreign secretary Mr Alexander wrote: "The Tories have now bought up hundreds of billboard poster sites on high streets across the country for the months of March and April to run their negative personalised adverts. |
| "It already seems clear that in their campaign the Tories intend to spread falsehood, fear and smear. | "It already seems clear that in their campaign the Tories intend to spread falsehood, fear and smear. |
| "They will seek to avoid open debate and scrutiny. The Tories will dig deep into their donors' pockets - and plumb new depths - in their desperation to cling on in government." | "They will seek to avoid open debate and scrutiny. The Tories will dig deep into their donors' pockets - and plumb new depths - in their desperation to cling on in government." |
| Digital campaign | |
| A spokesman told the BBC that focusing on "issues not personalities" did not preclude the use of Mr Miliband's image in Labour's own campaign, however. | A spokesman told the BBC that focusing on "issues not personalities" did not preclude the use of Mr Miliband's image in Labour's own campaign, however. |
| Political opponents may also appear in digital campaigns, which has not been ruled out by Labour, said BBC political correspondent Iain Watson. | Political opponents may also appear in digital campaigns, which has not been ruled out by Labour, said BBC political correspondent Iain Watson. |
| He added: "Labour admit they have very few resources to pay for billboard campaigns in any case and are stressing their emphasis on individual contacts with voters." | He added: "Labour admit they have very few resources to pay for billboard campaigns in any case and are stressing their emphasis on individual contacts with voters." |
| Mr Miliband has recently been featured in a Conservative Party campaign, in which he appears in a mocked-up Downing Street scene alongside SNP politician Alex Salmond and Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, with the caption: "Your worst nightmare just got even worse." | Mr Miliband has recently been featured in a Conservative Party campaign, in which he appears in a mocked-up Downing Street scene alongside SNP politician Alex Salmond and Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, with the caption: "Your worst nightmare just got even worse." |
| Labour also confirmed that while discussions on the format of TV election debates continue, Mr Miliband would debate with whoever else is invited to take part. | Labour also confirmed that while discussions on the format of TV election debates continue, Mr Miliband would debate with whoever else is invited to take part. |