Tories launch Facebook campaign - News in brief - Evening Standard
       

Tories launch Facebook campaign

A Conservative Party drive to recruit new "friends" has been launched via social networking site Facebook featuring a video made by award-winning film director Matthew Vaughn.

Mr Vaughn, whose credits include Layer Cake and Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels and is married to supermodel Claudia Schiffer, has been recruited as the party's "creative consultant".

His film, starring party leader David Cameron, is part of a £500,000 ad campaign centred on 10 policy areas and involving a new initiative to boost supporters and party coffers.

Voters are being offered the chance to become a "Friend of the Conservatives" - and receive regular updates and advice on getting involved - in return for a donation of as little as £1.

The party hopes it will encourage more support and reduce reliance on major donors in the wake of sleaze scandals and falling interest in paid-up membership of political parties. The "friends" will not however enjoy the voting rights of full members.

National and local newspaper adverts, direct mailshots and billboard posters will also appear, featuring a revival of the "You Can Get It If You Really Want".

Jimmy Cliff's reggae hit of the same name - played after Mr Cameron's successful party conference speech in October - also features on the new film.

In it, the party leader is shown sat in his Commons office, telling voters: "The world is changing and my generation of politicians understands that.

"A decade ago, the internet was just a buzz word; now it is changing the way we live our lives.

"We have been incredibly specific about the changes we want to make, so don't give up - change can come, you can get the change you really want."

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