Cook slams Blair's 'black arts' tactics

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By Paul Waugh Deputy Political Editor, Evening Standard
31 January 2005

Labour came under fresh pressure today over its controversial posters of Michael Howard as Robin Cook warned that "black arts" tactics would switch off voters.

The former foreign secretary and Commons leader said it was time to call a halt to negative and personalised adverts, such as proposed election posters depicting the Tory leader as a flying pig or "Shylock" figure.

Writing in today's Evening Standard, Mr Cook argues against US-style attack adverts. He says: "We adopt the black arts of negative campaigning because politicians, like everyone else, are too much in awe of the latest US practice.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/16268668?source=Evening%20Standard

BLACK ARTS?