Tories try to woo young voters with web jukebox message

Published on Tuesday 20 October 2009 21:55

THE Conservatives are taking a leaf out of Barack Obama's campaign textbook and launching a bid to woo young voters today by advertising on digital music service Spotify.

A 45-second message from party chairman Eric Pickles will interrupt listeners' choice of tracks to criticise Gordon Brown's "reckless spending."

In the broadcast, Mr Pickles apologises for butting in but says his party thinks information about rising debt levels are "something you need to hear".

He says there will be a general election in the next eight months which is "your chance to end the madness by voting for a positive alternative."

Spotify is a digital jukebox which allows users to choose what they want to hear from a vast library.

While a premium service features no adverts, a free version is punctuated by commercials.

The internet-based service also recently launched as an application for Apple's iPhone.

The Tories hope their message will reach out to first-time voters and those aged 18 to 30, and could step up the campaign if it proves a success.

It is the latest attempt to embrace new forms of media, following the likes of David Cameron's Webcameron internet videos.

In the message from Mr Pickles, he says: "Well sorry to spoil your day, but here's something you don't want to hear.

"Thanks to Gordon Brown's reckless spending, this country's debt will double to 1.4 trillion within five years. Unbelievably that'll be almost 23,000 for every person in the UK.

"But here's something you do want to hear. There'll be an election within the next eight months – your chance to end the madness by voting for a positive Conservative alternative."