Marketing Political Parties

7.00.00pm GMT Wed 8th Dec 2004

Today I attended a Centre for Political Marketing and Management symposian on Marketing Political Parties: The theory and reality of designing ideology, policy and leadership to suit public opinion at Keele University.

The symposian was well worth attending, we heard from Dr. Jennifer Lees-Marshment (The Centre's Director) and Mr. Will Harris (Former marketing Director for the Conservative Party). Both made very interesting observations, Dr. Lees-Marshment from an academic standpoint and Mr. Harris from a political practioners standpoint. Unsurprisingly I agreed far more with Mr. Harris than Dr. Lees-Marshment, the theory is quite different from the reality.