London - Britain's governing political party, Labour, has appointed Saatchi & Saatchi London to handle its advertising account before the next election. It's almost 30 years since the agency famously helped Margaret Thatcher and the Conservative Party to power with the 'Labour Isn't Working' slogan in 1979.
Saatchi & Saatchi is understood to have clinched the business after impressing the Labour Party with its creative campaigns and its capacity as a big agency. Saatchis beat a shortlist of Beattie McGuinness Bungay, Profero and Albion to win the account.
The pitch was led by SSF's CEO Robert Senior, and Saatchi & Saatchi Creative Director Kate Stanners.
Douglas Alexander, Labour's general election co-ordinator, said, "I can confirm we have appointed Saatchi & Saatchi and we're delighted to have them on board."
Senior added, "This is a seminal moment for Saatchi & Saatchi and a seminal moment for Kate and myself. It's a real statement of intent for the agency. We have the opportunity to take the strength and conviction that Gordon Brown has shown as Prime Minister and apply our creativity to that to do the right thing for the country."
The Saatchi name has been synonymous with Conservatism for decades, even though the agency resigned the account in 1987.
There are no official details yet about the timing of the campaign, or the budget it will deploy.