But a group of pro-Brexit communications professionals including
Tim Bell, a co-founder of Saatchi & Saatchi best known for his
work getting Margaret Thatcher elected as prime minister, has
assembled to work together under the Communicators for Britain
banner.
On the final day of campaigning, the agency London Advertising
released a series of ads, one of which attempts to counter racist
accusations by showing a picture of an Indian supporter who says,
"This is not a racist thing. This is not an immigration thing. This
is about having faith in yourself and hope for the future."
Many agencies have taken matters into their own hands, adding
their individual voices to the campaigning.
Adam & Eve/DDB became so involved that it had to register as
a campaigning organization. U.K. rules allow a spend of up to
£10,000 for non-official bodies, nearly $15,000, but the
figure includes the value of time spent, so the agency registered
to avoid risking breaking the law.
The agency enlisted some A-list names, including actress Keira
Knightley and physicist Stephen Hawking, to star in a series of
hard-hitting video ads that urge people to vote in the referendum
by warning, "Don't
let others fuck with your future."
Although they don't outwardly take sides, the videos are clearly
aimed at young people and, by mobilizing them to vote, keeping
Britain in the EU.
Targeting Cannes attendees
U.K. delegates at the Cannes Lions International Festival of
Creativity have no excuse to miss the referendum. Adam &
Eve/DDB also created an ad directly aimed at industry types, to
make sure they registered for a postal vote before leaving for the
French Riviera. Using a bottle of rosé as its motif, the ad
read, "Off to Cannes? Don't forget: Factor 30; your dignity; your
postal vote for the EU referendum." A registration form was
attached.
"We didn't want it to look like an ad that was trying to win an
award," Mr. Murphy said. "It's practical. The main thing is the
form."
Voters are not allowed to take pictures in the actual polling
booths, but postal voters have been able to photograph their
polling cards and show where they put their mark. Such photos have
been all over social media, as voters make their allegiances clear
in a way that hasn't happened in U.K. general elections.