Cynics would maintain that most political campaigns are hilarious. The current UK Green Party one is meant to be. London agency, Creature, has turned the UK Green Party’s four main rivals into members of a ridiculous boy band, called the Coalition, in its campaign for the UK election on May 7.
In the UK, political parties are allowed to buy advertising on billboards, print, and online but not on TV or radio. Each of the main parties is, however, allocated a primetime TV slot, free of charge, with a maximum air time of four minutes and 40 seconds.
Creature’s film opens with a serious message, delivered by a spokesperson (a black woman), who says, “There’s only one party that stands by its beliefs, while every other party is so similar – it’s like they’re in … harmony.” Then it’s all go on the parody. The cheesy quartet, Coalition, sing the song, Change the Tune, in harmony and with all the clichéd props, demonstrating how similar all their policies sound.
The four men are current Prime Minster David Cameron (Conservative Party), his deputy Nick Clegg (Liberal Democrat), Ed Miliband (Labour) and Nigel Farage (UK Independence Party). The only real feature that distinguishes the four men from one another is the colour of their ties.
The Green Party is led by a woman, Natalie Bennet. In her statement she noted, “For many years the establishment parties have been singing from the same hymn sheet. The consensus – which sees all other parties sign up to austerity economics, privatization of our public services and inaction on climate change – is coming to an end. The Green Party is offering a real alternative to business-as-usual politics.”
The video was released on YouTube and the Green Party’s website ahead of the TV broadcast on BBC1 and Channel 4.
