In this episode of the Political Marketing podcast, host Benedict Pringle interviews Sir Chris Powell, a prominent figure in British advertising and political marketing. They discuss the historical context and impact of Labour’s ‘Shadow Communications Agency’ in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as the challenges posed by populism in contemporary politics. Sir Chris shares insights from his experience advising the Labour Party, emphasising the importance of understanding voter concerns, the need for cooperation among anti-populist forces, and strategies for effectively engaging with voters. The conversation also touches on the significance of addressing bread-and-butter issues rather than getting distracted by populist rhetoric.

Takeaways

• The Shadow Communications Agency was a convenient fiction.
• Understanding cultural context is crucial for effective campaigning.
• Cooperation among anti-populist forces is essential for success.
• Targeting non-voters may yield better results than chasing floating voters.
• Direct attacks on populist leaders can backfire and reinforce their support.
• Addressing voter concerns is key to winning elections.
• Effective political communication requires clarity and relatability.

Keywords

political marketing, advertising, populism, election strategy, Labour Party, political communication, voter engagement, anti-populism, political campaigns, Sir Chris Powell

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In this first episode of The Political Marketing Podcast, Benedict Pringle speaks to Professor Jennifer Lees-Marshment, one of the founding figures in the field of political marketing. They explore what political marketing really is, how it developed as a discipline, and how it played out in the 2024 UK general election.

The conversation covers Labour’s broad but shallow appeal, the Conservative collapse, the ethics of election advertising, and whether political parties are managing their people and their brands effectively. With reflections drawn from Jennifer’s new book Political Marketing and Management in the 2024 UK Election (to which Benedict contributes a chapter), this episode offers a thoughtful and wide-ranging look at the strategies, missteps and messages that shaped one of the most significant elections in recent history.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.