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Lib Dems see red over 'Tory turquoise'

Michael Crick | 12:28 UK time, Monday, 1 February 2010

Local Liberal Democrat parties are in revolt over the decision by the party's high command to introduce "aqua" - a kind of turquoisey blue - as an official party colour in addition to the traditional orange/yellow. See for what I mean.

"Which 'cretin' decided to use 'aqua' as an official Lib Dem colour alongside yellow?" asks the latest edition of .

"The 'aqua' is almost identical to the colour used by the , as is plainly obvious to all except those with the misfortune to suffer colour blindness."

Liberator describes the change as a "piece of idiocy by style obsessed fools who cannot see the political implications of using blue... it is a liability who should not be allowed within a million miles of the general election campaign".

This has led to a "grassroots rebellion", the co-editor of Liberator Simon Titley tells me.
"Cowley Street (Lib Dem HQ) recently sent out 'style guidelines' to local parties but many constituencies will be sticking with the traditional yellow/orange colour. The ALDC () last week sent its members guidelines on how to adapt the style guide for local 'Focus' leaflets, but has produced mock-ups in both colour schemes."

Mr Titley adds that: "During the forthcoming election campaign, the proportion of local parties sticking with the old colours will be an indication of the extent of the rebellion."

And an indication, too, of how much the Lib Dems practise the kind of devolution they preach.

Mind you, I did think the old Lib Dem orange was getting very tired and dated.

And please will the Lib Dems abolish those irritating orange diamond placards - now presumably aqua placards - which activists wave around and which spoil our TV pictures in campaign coverage.

I can easily see myself decapitating some wretched activist with one of the placards before long.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    Well I never - Lib Dems using Gregg's colours for their logo. Maybe they think the sausage roll & meat pasty connotations won't bother many of their oh so vegan supporters? Maybe the idea was to appeal to working class disaffected Labour people. Hmmn it's a little more difficult than that sonny. Which twenty-something degree'd 'expert' came up with that one and failed to see, not only the Greggs connection(although maybe Greggs was their inspiration while queing for a steak bake) but also the more obvious blue problem. Idiocy.
    But this sad effort follows swiftly on the case of Cameron's posters. Was that another twenty-something's idea which backfired so much it ruffled Call Me Dave's super smooth (airbrushed) visage?
    Perhaps too many people in advertising and design have been wasting their time at university rather than learning 'on the job'. Possibly university funding cuts may have a silver lining - better quality outcomes. After all GIGO (garbage in = garbage out) is not rocket science.

  • Comment number 2.

    The old Liberal Party used the colour green: wasn't this the colour of the old Country Party of Lord Shaftesbury or have I gone too far back?

    The under Jo Grimond, wasn't it, it went orange. A bit unfortunate that as they got confused with men in bowlers carrying instruments of oppression even though they did manage to prepare for government.

    Then as Liberal Democrats they went yellow: I never quite understood why but then it is neither orange nor green but perhaps they should have gone white to make up the tricolour to repent for being orange.

    Now they are adopting a colour called `aqua'. Didn't this once appear in a Julain & Sandy sketch on Round the Horne? I seem to recall that in that sketch the Liberal candidate got married. It does beg the question as to what is the colour of water? I suppose it all depends on where you are looking at it: the coast of Tuscany or Iceland? Will it be salt water or fresh, clean water? Will it be stagnant water or what was known in biblical times as living water? Either way there is plenty of scope for colour development here.

    They could even form a coalition between the yellow and the aqua and make green again. But then I ask what is wrong with magnolia?

  • Comment number 3.

    YELLOW AND AQUA? PERHAPS THEY ARE SUBBED BY SOMERFIELD?

    Hence the choice of vegetables.

  • Comment number 4.

    . At 6:36pm on 01 Feb 2010, barriesingleton

    I think you are onto something there. Always wondered how colours (along with flags) got decided. Pretty much seemed then oldest or heftiest got to grab the 'cool' ones like blue or red (and white) and then it was a grab bag thereafter.

    I wonder, if we equate supermarkets with political parties, how does it work out? Not very logically really if one tries to tie demographics. Sainsbury's and Jamie as Clegg heartland? True blue Coop or Tesco?

    Still trying to figure why Morrisons ever figured yellow and black looked spiffy, so the aqua move seems smart for them.

    Then there are the apposite straplines...

    'There is no plan'

    "Every little bit can still be taxed'

    'Live not too long, spend at lot on public pension pots'

    'Always raising taxes; always cutting services'

    'Try something new every day, no matter if it's lame and there's no intention of actually taking place'

    'What will we do with yours today? Cover ours tomorrow!'

    More reasons to stop wondering if there is any honour or competence in Parliament left'

    'Good, with fools'





  • Comment number 5.

    they should go back to the Joe Grimmond look, leather patches at the elbows and ten biros in the top pocket .. none worked, but you knew where you were with the old Libs, you felt safe and never ever threatened not like this present lot who all look like bank managers and will deliver zilch..

  • Comment number 6.

    They should just go beige and leave it at that.

  • Comment number 7.

    Been a Liberal (and then LibDem - never SDP) all my voting life. Just looked at the webpage and wondered why the style change makes it look like an old British Rail Intercity 125 from the 1970's? At least BR had the sense to change to Red, Cream and Charcoal!

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