Millennium party organisers denied considering letting sponsors
display logos on Parliament
Tim Crow
Karen Earl Ltd
’I haven’t seen the proposals in detail, but what’s being talked about
isn’t sponsorship, it’s a stunt. Stunts can work as part of a
sponsorship, but a stunt on its own isn’t sponsorship. For brands with a
maverick positioning or for a magazine feature push such as the Gail
Porter projection, it can be very effective, but it’s ’wham-bam thank
you ma’am’ territory. If everybody’s happy with that, then of course it
can be justified, but positioning it as mainstream, is frankly
stretching it.’
Chris Crowcroft
Crowcroft and Partners
’The dignity of the BBC is not degraded by association with appropriate
sponsored events and the principal of private finance partnering public
funding is well established in Government. However, sponsors being
perceived to fund the parliamentary process is a recipe for disaster for
both sides.’
Tari Hibbitt
Edelman PR Worldwide
’I think with great difficulty. There are double standards operating
here. People don’t want to think Parliament can be ’bought’ by
commercial sponsors, but they don’t mind when corporations help
Government with advice, research or specialists. If it’s blatant, people
sniff, if it looks like something intellectual, it’s okay. I think the
problem here is about Big Ben being kept pure, rather than about
sponsorship per se.’
Sarah Houghton-Berry
Craigie Taylor International
’Sponsorship not only provides much-needed funds, it also offers the
opportunity for companies to put something back into the community - be
it at a local, regional, national or international level. Any
sponsorship of Parliament would have to be in aid of a good cause -
domestic or international - done in a manner benefiting such a
prestigious and historical institution, and carefully monitored to
ensure no cheapening of such an august establishment.’
Heather Alderson
BBH Unlimited
’The Houses of Parliament will be a focal point for the party as they
are next to Big Ben. It would be a fabulous backdrop for a suitably
entertaining time. How about projecting moving caricatures of famous
parliamentarians through the ages, sponsored by Private Eye or another
media brand? As for sponsorship of politicians themselves, certainly
not.’
