20 Apr, 2015 13:51

Party political broadcasts: RT reviews 8 general election TV pitches (VIDEO)

With the UK general election campaign well underway, Britain’s eight largest political parties have released their television pitches – the much-scrutinized party political broadcasts.

Originally broadcast on primetime television, these broadcasts seek to highlight the parties’ key policies, while also offering them the chance to dispaly a human face.

RT has reviewed each of the election broadcasts, picking out their main message and adding any details from the manifesto, which the parties may have conveniently left out.

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC)

The TUSC’s party political broadcast sends a strong anti-austerity message with traditional left-wing policies opposed to privatization and in favor of higher wages for working people.

TUSC Chair Dave Nellist opens the video saying: “We’ve had enough of the establishment parties. They serve the interests of the one percent, not the 99 percent.”

If elected, the TUSC pledge to end cuts to government spending, end the privatization of the NHS, re-nationalize the railways and utilities, and bring the banks into public ownership.

@davenellist #TUSC only broadcast we as a family have watched from beginning to end, & not thrown something at the telly!
— billshankly (@williamshankly) April 17, 2015

UK Independence Party (UKIP)

In UKIP’s party political broadcast, Nigel Farage positions himself as the leader of a party representing everyday people against the “political classes.”

Farage highlights among his policies: “No tax on the minimum wage, a reduction of energy bills, and an end to uncontrolled, unskilled migrant labor coming into Britain and putting British people out of work.”

UKIP’s manifesto also supports scrapping the Climate Change Act (2008), exiting the EU, cutting foreign aid and a maximum tax rate of 30 percent.

Just watched #UKIP political broadcast. Not a word on policy. Not one. They're only making plans for Nigel. #Farage
— Laura Marcus (@MissLauraMarcus) April 14, 2015

Green Party

The Green Party has released two election broadcasts so far. Their first video (which has had over 700,000 views) depicts the major parties as a boyband and urges viewers to “change the tune” by voting “true, not tactical.”

A second broadcast focuses on the dire state of Britain’s railways and issues a pledge to renationalize them, promising cheaper fares and a better service.

The Green’s also pledge to introduce a Robin Hood tax on financial transactions by banks, to raise the top rate of tax to 60 percent and to increase the minimum wage to £10 an hour by 2020.

The Green party's election broadcast amused me but you can't help but think this is why people don't take them seriously
— charles. (@raise__it__up) April 11, 2015

Scottish National Party (SNP)

The SNP’s party political broadcast initially appeals to Scotland’s reinvigorated sense of national identity, with the narrator claiming proudly: “This is our place. Our country.”

However, it goes on to take aim at the SNP’s only real rival in Scottish politics. “I remember when Labour used to stand up to the Tories. That’s just not happening anymore.”

The SNP pledge to resist government spending cuts, protect Scottish jobs, safeguard the NHS and hold Westminster to its promise of further devolution for the Scottish government.

I don't get the SNP party broadcast. It states no polices or how they will fund anything etc etc etc. Voting for that advert is a blind vote
— Liam Connar Phillips (@LiamConnar) April 20, 2015

Plaid Cymru

Like the SNP, Plaid Cymru use their broadcast to appeal to Welsh national identity, while at the same time taking a stab at Labour, their main rival in the election.

Plaid Cymru promise to create more jobs by cutting business rates for small companies, ensure public contracts go to Welsh companies, and foster a strong local economy.

That Plaid Cymru party political broadcast shows how undervalued Wales are in Parliament
— ADTR (@dxath_cab) April 10, 2015

Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrat election broadcast uses the metaphor of a father driving his car through town to illustrate their position in the center ground.

Instead of turning left to Labour and more “government borrowing” or turning right to the Conservatives and further “cuts,” the Lib Dems promise to be a party that offers both in moderation.

The Lib Dems pledge to eradicate the current budget deficit, raise the personal tax allowance to £12,500, and restrict non-domicile tax status so it can no longer be inherited.

Lib Dem party election broadcast is actually quite clever, though I spent most of it trying to work out whether she was wearing a seatbelt.
— Alys Tarr (@alysrtarr) April 13, 2015

Labour

The Labour Party’s election broadcast features actor Martin Freeman, star of The Hobbit, as he explains how the real choice in this election is between two different sets of values.

Labour believes in “community, compassion and fairness,” while the Conservatives offer tax cuts for millionaires and seemingly “don’t believe in the NHS.”

Labour’s manifesto offers a kind of ‘austerity light,’ promising to eliminate the deficit “as soon as possible” through government cuts but without raising taxes, while at the same time increasing the minimum wage, abolishing non-domicile tax status and reducing tuition fees.

Having the Hobbit in the #Labour party broadcast election was the biggest failure ever.
— Cobain Sr. ☯ (@ChriiisTDE) April 20, 2015

Conservatives

The Conservative Party’s broadcast promises to clear the budget deficit, back business to create new jobs and opportunities, cut income tax for working families and “keep investing in the NHS.”

The video highlights pledges to deliver three million apprenticeships for Britain’s youth and to extend their “help to buy” scheme to assist young people trying to buy their first property.

The Tory manifesto also states they will reduce the benefits cap to £23,000, increase the inheritance tax threshold for homes to £1 million and cut school funding by 10 percent.