War of the lanyards

johninnit Thu Sep 21, 2006 at 05:59:27 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Which side are you on? At Labour conference 2006, are you for Sky's sponsored white lanyards, or the GMB's red one?



The party conference organisers have got a bit of a coup, convincing Rupert Murdoch to part with lots of (much needed) dosh in return for getting Sky's logo on the white bits of string which will hold delegates' passes securely round their necks. Money (quite literally) for old rope.

Finding that some delegates aren't keen on a Murdoch yoke, the GMB have printed a rival lanyard in red, which advertises their current AA campaign.

The battle lines are drawn, and it's time to choose. Would you rather wear a white Sky lanyard to help the party raise funds, or does principle, tradition (and a natty red) win out?

The poll is just to your right, in the beige navigation bar. Let's have your vote!

More on this crucial party issue on my blog (which is sponsored by Nike, McDonalds and Esso)


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War of the lanyards | 8 comments (8 topical)

Re: War of the lanyards (#1)

by alexhilton on Thu Sep 21, 2006 at 08:59:52 PM GMT

This website (whose current sponsors are Our Say, Citigate and the Social Market Foundation) doesn't have an official view on this - however, personally, I think we should be grateful for the cash considering how short we are.

That money means fewer Party employees will have to be sacked.


Re: War of the lanyards (#2)

by johninnit on Thu Sep 21, 2006 at 09:58:22 PM GMT

Indeed. It's funny just how much companies will pay for this kind of little thing - it is likely to be a serious chunk of one party worker's wages as you say. Lanyards always popular for sponsorship I hear as they reckon that any image of a delegate or speaker will have to have their pass (and hence the logo) visible. Not sure how much a telly camera is going to pick up on a Sky logo about 8mm tall though.

You often see generous sponsorships by a type of company that the organisation in question will then spend cash with (eg lawyers or polling firms), so I'm always unsure whether the supposed generosity just works its way back into bills later in the year. With the Sky one, at least there isn't this potential problem!


[ Parent ]

Re: War of the lanyards (#3)

by Glass House on Fri Sep 22, 2006 at 03:01:30 PM GMT

Hmmmm. Pointless gesture politics vs. helping to dig the party we love out of a financial hole?

Doesn't seem like such a hard decision really.


Re: War of the lanyards (#4)

by HOWLERMONKEY on Fri Sep 22, 2006 at 03:05:31 PM GMT

Could Recess Monkey sponsor some


Re: War of the lanyards (#7)

by alexhilton on Sun Sep 24, 2006 at 09:38:55 AM GMT

maybe next year


[ Parent ]

Re: War of the lanyards (#5)

by Glass House on Fri Sep 22, 2006 at 03:05:58 PM GMT

BTW johninnit - you should have ended with "Better to be financially bankrupt than morally so"

Now THATS spin


Re: War of the lanyards (#6)

by johninnit on Sun Sep 24, 2006 at 03:36:10 AM GMT

Good try Glass House, but I think I'd stick with the white (or at least maybe do some feeble fudge of wearing both - if that's physically possible - as I've been known to do with poppies in the past).

The deal's already done, so the money from Sky will be in the bag, whether you wear it or not. Devaluing the sponsorship would hit next year's deal, when it might well have been a company whom no-one is fussed about.

- though I suppose if you scratch enough, any firm can offend someone ;)


[ Parent ]

Re: War of the lanyards (#8)

by swatantra on Mon Sep 25, 2006 at 03:29:34 PM GMT

I've always prefered Unison's green.


War of the lanyards | 8 comments (8 topical)