Parties dispute Tory plan for COI spend

by Our Parliamentary correspondent, Campaign 15-Apr-05, 14:05

The three main political parties clashed over government adspend this week, when the Liberal Democrats and Labour attacked Tory plans for deep cuts in the budget.

Tory pledges to cut Whitehall's £189 million ad budget to £60 million by the 2007-08 financial year, the level it was at when Labour came to power in 1997, were dismissed by the two parties as "unrealistic" and "flaky".

Labour accused the Tories of double standards, pointing to their plans for "a major advertising and advice campaign" on drugs and "a clear, bold and very public TV campaign" on sexual health.

David Laws, the Treasury spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, said: "Much government ad expenditure is linked to key priorities." He said savings of £25 million a year were more credible.

The Tories insisted they could save £200 million a year on advertising by 2007-08.