Labour MP turns on Keir Starmer over ‘brutal’ attack ads on Rishi Sunak
A former shadow cabinet member has become the latest senior Labour politician to criticise the party’s adverts attacking Rishi Sunak.
Barry Gardiner, who was shadow trade secretary under Jeremy Corbyn, has warned against engaging in a ‘brutal slugging match of abuse, oversimplification and cheap slogans’.
The advert, published last week, claims the Prime Minister does not think child sex abusers should go to prison and has drawn criticism from Conservatives as well as figures within the Labour Party.
Leader Sir Kier Starmer has defended the advert, saying it is ‘highlighting the failures’ of the Tory government.
Mr Gardiner said trying to ‘dehumanise’ Mr Sunak is a flawed strategy, and that Labour is better than ‘gutter politics’.
He added: ‘If we blur the distinction between policy and person, we descend into the gutter.
‘Child abuse is a sickening crime, not an instrument to be weaponised against a political opponent.
‘Tactically it’s also a mistake. It potentially undermines Labour’s own credibility.
‘If people don’t recognise the monster we paint, they will not believe our valid criticisms of (Mr Sunak’s) policies.’
Other adverts in the campaign focused on the non-dom tax status previously held by Mr Sunak’s wife, and accused him of being soft on gun crime.
It is understood Sir Kier won’t be attending a Parliamentary Labour Party meeting on Monday, at which the Independent reports MPs angered by the adverts will protest.
The adverts have received support from some senior Labour figures.
Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said on Saturday: ‘It’s important that Rishi Sunak is held accountable for the last 13 years of Conservative government.
‘I will always say I think civility is important in politics. My natural comfort zone would be a debate in detail on the issue or policy area. But accountability is important as well.’
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