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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 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Watch: Labour's Lucy Powell refused to tell Naga Munchetty whether she backed the ad's claim or not | |
| Watch: Labour's Lucy Powell refused to tell Naga Munchetty whether she backed the ad's claim or not | |
| 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. | 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. | 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." | 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 | 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." | "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. | 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. |
| The advert said that, under the Conservative government, 4,500 "adults convicted of sexually assaulting children under 16 served no prison time," promising that Labour would "lock up dangerous child abusers". | The advert said that, under the Conservative government, 4,500 "adults convicted of sexually assaulting children under 16 served no prison time," promising that Labour would "lock up dangerous child abusers". |
| The data appears to come from Labour research released earlier this week that said that more than 4,000 convicted child sex offenders have avoided jail terms since 2010, when the Tories came to power under David Cameron. | The data appears to come from Labour research released earlier this week that said that more than 4,000 convicted child sex offenders have avoided jail terms since 2010, when the Tories came to power under David Cameron. |
| Former Conservative cabinet minister Rory Stewart - who served as justice minister under Theresa May's premiership - was among those criticising the tweet, calling for "policy not polarisation". | Former Conservative cabinet minister Rory Stewart - who served as justice minister under Theresa May's premiership - was among those criticising the tweet, calling for "policy not polarisation". |
| He said: "Is someone going to point out that this is about laws, sentencing guidelines and judicial practices? That were not and would not be different under Labour? Or talk about how even tougher sentences have overcrowded prisons?" | He said: "Is someone going to point out that this is about laws, sentencing guidelines and judicial practices? That were not and would not be different under Labour? Or talk about how even tougher sentences have overcrowded prisons?" |
| 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, 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." | "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 |