Latest
'EMBARRASSING'
Sir Keir Starmer DOUBLES DOWN on ‘gutter politics’ attack on Rishi Sunak with fresh swipe – despite huge backlash
SHAMELESS Sir Keir Starmer tonight doubled down on a “vile” attack against Rishi Sunak despite a monster backlash.
A Labour campaign ad accusing the PM of wanting paedophiles to dodge jail was roundly condemned as “gutter politics” - including by its own supporters.
2
2
The incendiary social media post said: “Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesn’t.”
Labour also included stats claiming 4,500 sex attack monsters had avoided jail on the Tories’ watch.
Twitter has since slapped a disclaimer on the ad clarifying the Tories’ true policy on crime, while a shadow cabinet minister would not endorse the attack in a car-crash interview.
READ MORE ON POLITICS
But last night Labour ramped up its offensive with a near identical post accusing Mr Sunak of wanting dangerous gunmen to also avoid prison.
The row has appalled some of Sir Keir’s own MPs, with former shadow chancellor John McDonell warning it is “not the sort of politics” the party should practice.
He added: “I say to the people who have taken the decision to publish this ad, please withdraw it. We, the Labour Party, are better than this."
Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson called the remarks “vile and embarassing” and “gutter politics” while fellow Conservative MP Robert Largan branded the post “really shameful stuff”.
Most read in The Sun
Shadow Culture Secretary Lucy Powell today insisted it was part of the “cut and thrust” of campaigning but refused to stand by the tweet.
While admitting it would not be “to everyone’s taste” she claimed it was “a skit” based on the Conservative’s own graphics.
Asked on BBC Breakfast if she endorsed the post, she squirmed: "What I stand by is what that graphic is trying to show, which is that the Prime Minister of our country is responsible for the criminal justice system of our country and currently that criminal justice system is not working."
Critics accused Labour of hypocrisy after its outcry over then-PM Boris Johnson claiming Sir Keir had failed to prosecute Jimmy Savile when director of public prosecutions.
Conservative HQ last night hit back with its own ads claiming Labour has voted against harsher sentences for sickos.
Topics