Costly spin looks pretty opportunist

There’s been plenty of controversy about the rising cost of Government publicity spend…

And it’s easy to get caught up in the claim and couter-claim on the run up to an election. But the claims that HM Government’s overall spend has increased in the last year by nearly 40% are manifesting themselves through the radio, our home letterbox, local papers and, above all, the TV.

Whilst watching the small amount of television I do it’s been apparent there’s something in those claims. The number of different adverts on the TV about the Government’s national website, www.direct.gov.uk, has been extraordinary recently.

Then there’s the leaflet which arrived today, never had one before, about anti-social behaviour and how to report it. Or the clever police reassurance ad on the tele which sees the constable straightening a police sign on the way out of a troublemaker’s house.

Radio seems crammed with everything from appeals to make sure people know about greater pension income for less contributions to adverts by the Health and Safety Exec about keeping safe at work. And then there’s the Department of Children, Schools and Families with their rainbow logo who have TV spots about everything from diplomas to social work promotion.

Now, I’m in no way saying these are all wrong. Some of them to my mind do sail a little close to the wind regarding the test of whether they promote Government services and information or political policy (some may say the two are inextricably linked) but it’s the very obvious recent escalation of media use which is a little suspicious.

Whatever the arguments the latest figure of £250million is quite hefty.

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