Next PM Liz Truss Must Support UK Ad Industry to Boost Business, Says Advertising Association

 

On today’s appointment of Liz Truss MP as leader of the Conservative Party, meaning she will succeed Boris Johnson as UK prime minister tomorrow, the Advertising Association has issued a statement.

“We would like to congratulate Liz Truss on her appointment and we look forward to working with her government to establish the best environment for the industry to thrive,” said Sue Eustace, director of public affairs for the industry trade body.

She went on to explain the UK ad industry’s key role in the country’s economy: “In the hard times businesses face in the months ahead, investing in advertising can help grow businesses and position brands better in the market. Advertising also brings consumer benefits as it drives competition, innovation and consumer choice. These in turn help lower prices, helping people facing a cost-of-living squeeze.

 

“The UK is a global leader and exporter of advertising and marketing services. We have always attracted the best talent from across the globe, bringing business to the UK and creating more jobs for British citizens. The industry needs to be celebrated and championed for its creativity and contribution to the positioning of Global Britain in the world.”

 

The statement then proceeded to run through a list of policy areas where the new PM can focus to best support British advertising: “But we need Government policies that can help advertising businesses through the tough times ahead.

 

“We need regulatory certainty, support for the ASA advertising self-regulatory system, and the scaling back of unnecessary regulatory intervention such as the HFSS advertising restrictions.

 

“It also means going further.

 

“We encourage the Government to look, longer-term, at developing a strategic industrial strategy that will benefit the UK’s leading advertising, creative and professional business services sectors.

 

“Changes to skills policy, particularly the apprenticeship levy, will make a huge difference. Changes to immigration policy would enable companies to continue to attract the best global talent.

 

“And a long-term look at bigger-picture issues like clustering, tax policies and exports that could, in parallel with regulatory stability, help create the right conditions for future success. That should include a proper assessment of the proposal to privatise Channel 4, which has long been a crown jewel in the UK’s creative output on the world stage.”