Dave the Chameleon was the British Labour Party's advertising slogan, and the basis of their political campaign, for the 2006 local elections. The campaign attempted to portray the recently elected leader of the Conservative Party and leader of the Opposition, David Cameron, as an ever-changing populist who will be whatever people want him to be. It was criticised as being a particularly negative form of campaigning,[1] though some have disputed this.[2] In particular, the BBC political editor Nick Robinson said "you say, the public hate negative advertising. To which I say – nonsense, poppycock and balderdash", adding that "they remember it when it's good".[3]
In the event, Labour had a projected national share of the vote 13% behind the Conservatives.
- ^ Jones, George; Wilson, Graeme; Burleigh, James (19 April 2006). "Blair resorts to cartoon jibes at Dave the chameleon". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
- ^ Ashley, Jackie (19 April 2006). "Ignore the cynics". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 February 2016 – via Comment is Free.
- ^ Robinson, Nick (19 April 2006). "Changing colours". BBC News. Retrieved 27 February 2016 – via Nick Robinson's Newslog.
Ah but, you say, the public hate negative advertising. To which I say - nonsense, poppycock and balderdash. People say they don't like negative advertising and they may even mean it but, boy, they remember it when it's good.