Tomorrow (Tuesday) morning at 8.20am I will be on the Today programme, live in the studio, discussing a new logo for the Conservative Party with Jim Naughtie and Marcel Knobel from Superbrand. The torch of freedom is being ditched and a new logo is being designed. I think this is long overdue and I am glad it is happening.
The Today producers have asked if I would solicit ideas from you, dear readers, on what this new logo might look like. However, there is a twist. They would like you to suggest what animal could be deployed for the logo, continuing the chameleon theme (the pedants among you will of course know that the chameleon is a reptile and not an animal, but we'll leave that to one side). Obviously this item on Today will be a mixture of seriousness and humour, so do tell me in the comments section your ideas and I will be given the opportunity to read out the best two or three live on the programme (unless of course I am interrupted....!). Personally, I rather like this one from Beau Bo D'Or...
Seriously, this is a once in a decade opportunity for the Party to rebrand itself. Any new logo must embrace the concept of a modern, compassionate Conservative Party. Over to you!
UPDATE: Perhaps I didn't make myself clear, they're looking for animals the Conservatives could use on the logo, together with an explanation! By all means make serious suggestions too, but I suspect it's the animal ones which will get read out.
UPDATE: Chris Palmer at Political Crossroads has created some very good putative logos.
35 comments:
"Any new logo must embrace the concept of a modern, compassionate Conservative Party."
Cuddly and conservative?
How about a kitten relieving itself on a European flag?
As someone who was in the Comms team when Royal Mail changed to Consignia and back again I could tell you how not to re-brand!
Personally I think the lighter Cameron blue as I like to call it feels like it is a step along the right lines - and perhaps if we are putting the environment at the heart of our policy platform we should think about using green.
Give the Tory Radio logo only cost £150 I may not be best placed to give advice on this one though!
A burning sword of freedom with a the severed head of a socialist skewered on the pointy end?
Or if you want a more environmentally appropriate icon, how about one of the lions from the national standard devouring a guardian columnist?
RM
ps It's almost time for my medicine, so I may come back with some more cuddly ideas after Nurse Cindy has visited.
I'm afraid I must trump your pedantry: reptiles are animals.
As one who is naturally suspicious of rebranding, how about Orwellian pigs? "Conservatives Good, Cameron's Conservatives Better!"
Why not cash in on the football fervour with three lions? Voting Conservative is necessary in order to support England. With Tony Blair and Gordon Brown in charge it certainly is.
Or, given that Cameron is trying to appeal to people of all backgrounds, how about a hybrid animal such as a minotaur or a griffin? The minotaur required feeding in the form of young men and women every year. So at least MH would be happy!
A teddy bear to show we're cute and cuddly now?
Anything but a magpie!
My wife had a blue bear tattooed on her shoulder - he became known as Tory!
During last years General Election it was one of those things covered up at candidate functions although it probably is the in thing now as Mrs Cameron has one!
We had horrors of the local papers in a "top tory totty in teddy tattoo tale" headline.
So there is my vote - a bear. Cuddly and needs saving but ruthlessly efficient at catching food and seeing off other animals. Small kids love them and they even have a blue one in Denver!
http://debtorby.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/big_blue_bear_dark_1.jpg
How about a Tortoise: We were the first party to think that everyone should own their own home.
An Ant: Because Conservatives believe in hard work
A Hedgehog: Despite prickly appearances, we are nice and useful creatures.
A Seahorse: An animal which gives the job of baby rearing to the male - very Cameron's Conservatives.
Actually, now I've had my medicine I think Kevin's idea's pretty good. I like bears. I've always found them kind of cool.
How about a blue rinsed polar bear?
Eating a socialist.
Ooops. I think Nurse Cindy had better give me another one of my special smarties.
RM
A blue whale - something of an endangered species I believe!
The only animal that needs to be featured is the one that has never once been considered by governments in power - the same one that David Cameron wants to enjoy a feeling of General Well Being - the human animal.
Cameron's idea is revolutionary - that the State serves its people, and not the people serve the State. It's time for The Naked Ape to take Tory centre stage.
How about a Stag or a White Hart. Mystic ( like the policy review ) yet reassuring.
Hold on - thats male, English and Anglo-Saxon. That'll be vetoed for sure.
The animal should be a symbol of strength, yet compassion. I can't think of anything in particular... except maybe an eagle, but I reckon that's been done already!
Don't want to sound like a party pooper but the Radio 4 mob aren't exactly friends of the party. Prepare well, Iain. Have a hearty breakfast. Stay on your toes.
Iain - how about three lions!
It's really very simple, witty, and annoying to the Labour Party. The new symbol should be an English Rose!
How about something truthful for a slogan?
In Europe, Run by Europe and at the very rotten heart of Europe.
In keeping with the modern consensual politics of the time; how about a big blue Millenium Dome?
Iain
What's your take on this?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5071386.stm
It's not so much a party political bias at the BBC, it's more a liberal-left attitude of mind which is so complacent that it really is unaware that there might be any points of view divergent from its own on issues such as law and order and Europe.
On law and order, I remember Niall Dixon sneering about the rising prison population 'all this when crime is falling'. Obviously it had never occurred to him that it might be possible that crime was falling because the prison population was rising.
As for Europe, Rod Liddle has noted how one senior BBC person said re. Lord Pearson of Rannoch (who argues for withdrawal from the EU) 'You realise he's quite mad, don't you?' I don't, personally, want withdrawal from the EU (just to stay out of the Single Currency and Constitution), but to question the mental health of those who do is disgraceful.
Then, of course, there were the two News 24 presenters who fatuously commented to each other that the Single Currency was good because it meant you wouldn't have to change your money into different currencies on holiday. Never mind all the poor people who, during our ERM membership, couldn't afford a holiday because they'd lost their homes or jobs (or even both) thanks to the fact that we couldn't set interest rates to meet our own needs.
There is also someone else's account of how everyone they met at the BBC read either the Guardian or the Independent. Rather as Mark Steel once proposed to solve religious conflict by making people change their religion every week, maybe all employees at the BBC should be forced to read a different newspaper every week. It may just go some way towards challenging a liberal left mindset which, rather than disagreeing with views divergent from its own, half the time just isn't aware any even exist. They may just even consider such heresies as 'If so many people in prison are illiterate, might it not be a good idea to reduce illiteracy by embracing synthetic phonics?' or 'Is selection by academic ability really less progressive than selection by chequebook or selection by religion?'
Going back to the topic heading, remembering how Thatcher did Churchill's v-sign the wrong way after the Woolwich West by-election in 75, how about a two-fingered gesture?
Confusing animals and mammals?
Iain, I have created some logos of my own for the Conservative party. You can view them here on my blog.
Also, isn't the obvious animal a human!
How about a dodo? Or possibly a dinosaur?
a cheeky ferret
On animal themes, how about a Gryffin - a legendary creature that represents strength and vigilance. It's on the royal coat of arms too.
Good posting, Iain. I've blogged about it too (jsingh-sohal.blogspot.com)
Yes, David Cameron should give up the freedom torch and display his European Union credentials with a logo that incorporates the phrygian cap.
I like the idea of the cute and cuddly domestic moggy, very independent but always sure of it's welcome home when it needs a feed and a warm, safe place to sleep.
But if it's a simple dig at Labour, it's got to be the Indian mongoose, they eat snakes and rats don't they!?!
Not an animal - difficult to reproduce on ballot papers.
Instead: union jack on a roundel surrounded by laurel wreath.
Choice of colours for the laurels either blue or green on a white background.
I know I will be criticised for saying this but I quite like this newer light blue Cameron brought in, even if those squares do look worryingly nu labour.
I've thrown my hat in the ring and put some ideas up on my blog:
http://westbromblog.blog.com/808598/#cmts
The Chameleon belongs to SuSE Linux
https://www.cafepress.com/suse.15072210
Tux, The Penguin is a Linux symbol
The Tories should have a pushmi-pullyu or even a grey squirrel. the latter could symbolise the pushing out of native species like red squirrels and importation of ideas not rooted in British heritage
How about an Anglo-Saxon warrior standing on the cliffs of Dover watching impassively as mainland europe sinks beneath the waves?
RM
Listened to you on the Radio this morning - full bravado points for repeating remittance man's idea of the flaming sword spiking a socialist's head. It didn't sound too popular - what did they say once you were off air ? How long before you get invited back ?
the sword of truth and the trusty shield of british fair play.
"the simple sword of truth and the trusty shield of fair play
Remember it well Jonathan......
Anon,
The sword and shield was the badge of the KGB. Maybe not such a good choice.
RM
Post a Comment