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| Labour's Lucy Powell refuses to back claim in Sunak attack ad | Labour's Lucy Powell refuses to back claim in Sunak attack ad |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Watch: Labour's Lucy Powell refused to back the ad's claim when speaking to BBC Breakfast | Watch: Labour's Lucy Powell refused to back the ad's claim when speaking to BBC Breakfast |
| Watch: Labour's Lucy Powell refused to back the ad's claim when speaking to BBC Breakfast | Watch: Labour's Lucy Powell refused to back the ad's claim when speaking to BBC Breakfast |
| A Labour shadow minister has refused to say whether she stands by a claim in a party attack advert which said Rishi Sunak does not think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison. | |
| Shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell repeatedly refused to endorse the ad. | Shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell repeatedly refused to endorse the ad. |
| But she said she stood by the campaign, saying it highlighted apparent failings in the justice system. | |
| The advert, posted on Thursday, has attracted cross-party criticism. | The advert, posted on Thursday, has attracted cross-party criticism. |
| Next to a photo and mock signature of the prime minister, the ad says: "Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesn't." | Next to a photo and mock signature of the prime minister, the ad says: "Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesn't." |
| Asked on BBC Breakfast if she stood by the Twitter post, Ms Powell said: "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." | |
| The advert posted by Labour | |
| Asked whether she stood by the message, she said: "I stand by what this tweet and this campaign is trying to highlight. | Asked whether she stood by the message, she said: "I stand by what this tweet and this campaign is trying to highlight. |
| "The graphic itself, obviously, is a skit based on his own graphics that he extensively uses," she added, in an at times fiery exchange. | "The graphic itself, obviously, is a skit based on his own graphics that he extensively uses," she added, in an at times fiery exchange. |
| "I can see it's not to everybody's taste and some people won't like it. | "I can see it's not to everybody's taste and some people won't like it. |
| "I didn't design the graphic but I'm here to explain what lies beneath it - which is a very serious point about what is happening to our criminal justice system, which is pretty shocking." | |
| Labour's former shadow chancellor John McDonnell urged the party to withdraw the tweet, saying: "This is not the sort of politics a Labour Party, confident of its own values and preparing to govern, should be engaged in." | Labour's former shadow chancellor John McDonnell urged the party to withdraw the tweet, saying: "This is not the sort of politics a Labour Party, confident of its own values and preparing to govern, should be engaged in." |
| The caption accompanying the campaign graphic says: "Labour is the party of law and order." | The caption accompanying the campaign graphic says: "Labour is the party of law and order." |
| Crime is traditionally safer ground for the Conservatives, but Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer believes the issue can be a vote winner for his party. | Crime is traditionally safer ground for the Conservatives, but Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer believes the issue can be a vote winner for his party. |
| Although it's not something councils are directly responsible for, crime has become a key talking point in the run-up to the local elections next month. | Although it's not something councils are directly responsible for, crime has become a key talking point in the run-up to the local elections next month. |
| In the cut-and-thrust of campaigns, parties often make spurious claims about their opponents. | |
| However, Sir Keir has been careful to cultivate the perception that his party is the "grown-up in the room". | However, Sir Keir has been careful to cultivate the perception that his party is the "grown-up in the room". |
| With that in mind, many Labour supporters believe this advert could do more harm than good. | With that in mind, many Labour supporters believe this advert could do more harm than good. |
| Others, though, may be happy to keep questions about the Tories' record on crime near the top of the agenda, regardless of the tactics. | Others, though, may be happy to keep questions about the Tories' record on crime near the top of the agenda, regardless of the tactics. |
| Senior Tory MP Tobias Ellwood described the ad as "appalling" and claimed it threatened to undermine the democratic process, adding: "We should be better than this. I've called it out on my own side for stooping low and do so again now." | Senior Tory MP Tobias Ellwood described the ad as "appalling" and claimed it threatened to undermine the democratic process, adding: "We should be better than this. I've called it out on my own side for stooping low and do so again now." |
| Scottish National Party MP John Nicolson said the post was "nauseating" and that it "cheapened and debased" politics. | Scottish National Party MP John Nicolson said the post was "nauseating" and that it "cheapened and debased" politics. |
| Labour, however, stood by the post with a spokesperson saying on Thursday: "The Conservatives have left dangerous convicted criminals free to roam the streets. | |
| "Labour is the party of law and order, and we will implement tougher sentences for dangerous criminals." | |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Lucy Powell | Lucy Powell |
| Rishi Sunak | Rishi Sunak |
| Labour Party | Labour Party |