Name: CCHQ
Age: 145
Appearance: An evil Geppetto from a remake of Pinocchio that is largely about public perception of small business owners.
Is this the bit where I hilariously offer an incorrect suggestion of what I think CCHQ stands for, before you tell me that it really stands for Conservative Campaign Headquarters? Sure.
Then does it stand for Canny Caterpillars Hate Quinoa? No, it really stands for Conservative Campaign Headquarters.
Right, that’s that out the way. What’s going on? Did you see that letter in the Telegraph signed by 5,000 small business owners who want David Cameron to be re-elected next month?
Let’s say yes. Well, it came from CCHQ.
Did it? How does anyone know? The letter was supposed to be organised by Karren Brady, but when you open the letter on the Telegraph site and look at the metadata, the author is credited as “CCHQ-Admin”.
So the Conservative party organised a letter of support for itself and used its position of influence at the Telegraph to get it published? In a nutshell, yes.
That’s disgraceful. The Conservatives have lost my vote. Well, yes, but don’t be too hasty. As Buzzfeed reports, everyone’s at it. The Lib Dems organised a similar letter and had it published in the FT. And earlier this month, Labour compiled and released a letter ostensibly from business people and people on zero-hour contracts.
Which God-awful rag published that? Well, this is awkward.
Seriously? It was us? Well, yes, but that isn’t what this is about. All the parties know that coordinated letter-writing campaigns are an easy way to make front-page news. The difference is that the other parties are smart enough to take their names off theirs.
So what you’re saying is that we’re not having a go at CCHQ for misleading the public – because everyone does that – but we’re having a go because they’re not very good at computers? That’s it!
Seems fair. There is an election on, after all. Thanks for understanding.
Do say: “This sort of thing happens all the time. This innocent slip-up shouldn’t negate all the hard work and good results that the Conservative party is traditionally known for.”
Don’t say: “Sent by CCHQ-Admin.”
