ADVERTISING watchdogs have rapped the Tories for their 'demon eyes' poster of Labour leader Tony Blair, ruling it was offensive to him.

But they have rejected complaints that the poster was offensive or scary to the general public.

Bolton mother of two Roberta Fox-Braddock was one of many horrified by the ad campaign.

In July she told the BEN: "The demonic eyes are like something out of a Vincent Price horror film.

"It could leave children living in eternal fear of the Labour Party and what might happen to them if Labour gets in."

Mrs Fox-Braddock, aged 39, of Bromley Cross, branded the poster campaign "insensitive and frightening."

Her children Rory, seven, and Alexandra, aged 10, told her the poster was "spooky". After receiving 165 complaints nationwide about the 'New Labour, New Danger" campaign by Conservative Central Office the Advertising Standards Authority investigated.

Now they have ruled that the campaign breached the advertising code of practice which prevents "the portrayal, without permission of politicians in an adverse or offensive way."

The ASA has told the Tories not to use the advert again.

d But the watchdog has not upheld complaints that it was offensive to the public.

In its adjudication the ASA said: "Most readers of the advertisement would see the image and wording as symbolic representations of what the Conservative Party believed to be drawbacks to Labour Party policy.

"It is considered the advertisement would not cause serious or widespread offence."

Responding to the ASA, the Conservative Party said the tone of the campaign would be seen by most people as "an acceptable part of robust political debate".

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