The gloves are off in the Labour party

When Rishi Sunak became Tory leader, the party was 30 points behind Labour: that kind of deficit has historically been terminal for a political party. But since then, inflation has slowed, the Northern Ireland Protocol has been resolved and a deportation deal with Albania meant small boat arrivals fell for the first time on record. That Labour lead has fallen closer to 15 points; one poll last weekend put it as low as 11. A Keir Starmer defeat is now at least conceivable.

This is the context in which Labour has tried a new tactic: attacking the Prime Minister personally. ‘He is the Tories’ greatest single weapon,’ says one shadow cabinet member. ‘People see him as quiet, reliable and even impressive – even if they think his party is a smouldering wreck.’

Labour is seeking to play dirty in the run-up to May’s local elections. Hence the adverts asking voters if they think ‘adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison’ and claiming that ‘Rishi Sunak doesn’t’. This was only the first step in the new strategy; attacking Sunak’s rich Indian wife was the second. It’s all part of a broader attack plan: crime in week one, cost of living in week two, with health coming next. Inside Labour’s headquarters at 160 Blackfriars Road, the mood is unrepentant, with the local elections being seen as a ‘dry run’ for the general next year. As one Labour insider says: ‘Nice doesn’t win elections.’

Michael Dugher, who was a spokesman in Gordon Brown’s No. 10 before becoming an MP, spoke for many in Starmer’s team when he praised the strategy: ‘This stuff works. Oppositions in particular have to “controversialise” to cut through.’ This is certainly a school of thought: if a claim is seen to be untrue, it will cause a fuss, thereby magnifying the claim.