Labour outlines “evidence-based” support for ad industry

Harriet Harman, Labour’s deputy leader and shadow culture secretary, has outlined her party’s “evidence-based” support for the advertising industry.

Speaking ahead of ISBA’s annual lunch on Tuesday, where the MP will give a keynote speech to 450 marketing executives, Harman said: “Our policy on advertising will be based on sound evidence and developed through close working with industry.”

The Labour deputy added that advertising is a British success story, both as an important and creative industry, but also in the work that it does to promote price competition at home and promote British exports overseas.

Labour has also pledged to support the advertising industry as a generator of jobs and economic growth, improve the way the Government works with the industry on Government-purchased advertising and to work in consultation with the industry on issues which affect the sector.

Employing half a million people, the ad industry expects to see ad spend grow 5.5% in 2014 and 6.5% in 2015, taking it past £20 billion in the UK for the first time.

The forecasts, taken from the latest Advertising Association/Warc Expenditure Report, reflect reports on the improving buoyancy in the UK economy from both the IMF and the recent IPA Bellwether report.

Similarly, it has been estimated that every £1 of advertising generates £6 for the economy.

Harman will speak at the ISBA annual lunch on Tuesday 1 July at The Dorchester in Mayfair.