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EU Referendum Brexit Advertising

Nigel Farage blasts Operation Black Vote EU referendum ad for 'trying to divide society'

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By Charlotte McEleny, Asia Editor

May 26, 2016 | 2 min read

A poster by Operation Black Vote for the EU referendum has caused controversy, with Ukip leader Nigel Farage lambasting the ad for “trying to divide society”.

operation black vote EU referendum poster

The ad, created by Saatchi and Saatchi, depicts a woman in a sari on a see-saw with a man dressed in a stereotypical ‘skinhead’ look. Carrying the strap line “A vote is a vote”, the ad aims to encourage more black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) groups to vote by showing them that the power of a vote is equal.

Farage has called the advert “disgusting”, according to The Guardian, and labeled it for encouraging “sectarian politics”.

The Ukip leader, said: “I want to engage people in all communities to get involved in our democracy but I’m afraid this poster is a really big mistake”.

The ad was launched yesterday by Saatchi and Saatchi, with Magnus Djaba, chief executive of the agency, saying that the advert aimed to avoid the usual political language in order to resonate with its target audience.

"This campaign turns its back on the usual political posturing and talks to the BAME community in a language we understand,” he said.

EU Referendum Brexit Advertising

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