Political party Labour has revived its controversial social media campaign against Rishi Sunak, this time attacking the prime minister by claiming ‘he doesn’t think school buildings should be made safe’.
The advert – showcased as a post on Labour’s X account, the platform formerly known as Twitter – shows Sunak smiling, accompanied by his signature with text that reads, ‘Do you think your child’s school should be safe? Rishi Sunak doesn’t.’
The advert refers to the latest news that hundreds of schools may be affected by the ‘crumbling concrete crisis’ – a fear over the structural integrity of buildings constructed with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).
Yet, critics of the advert were quick to point out that hundreds of schools were being shut down as a precaution to ensure that schools were safe for pupils to return.
In addition, many pointed out the government had acted quicker than the Labour-run administration in Wales, which only started a new survey of schools with potentially dangerous concrete last week.
A Conservative Party spokesman said: “Labour were warned about this when they were last in office and did nothing; they ignored the issue in opposition and now it’s in the news they have decided they are interested.
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“In the meantime, in Labour-run Wales they are recklessly sending students back to school without checking they are safe, leaving parents in the dark.”
The controversial new advert comes in the wake of similar adverts released by Labour earlier this year, in which the creatives suggested the prime minister was complacent with convicted paedophiles.
The adverts, which featured the same smiling photo of the PM and signature, featured the words: “Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesn’t.”
The campaign, which even Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper declined to endorse, was described by former Labour home secretary David Blunkett as ‘gutter’ politics – tactics which left him ‘close to despair’.
However, party leader Sir Keir Starmer claimed he would “stand by every word” and would “make absolutely zero apologies for being blunt”.
It is not the first time a political campaign featuring PM Sunak has ignited controversy in recent weeks. Last month, posters by the Alba Party depicting Rishi Sunak as an oil vampire, and King Charles III with a ‘blocked’ symbol, were banned by media firm Global, over fears they were “slanderous” and “anti-monarchy”, respectively.
