Is the Labour party capable of being tough on crime?

One of the most contested grounds in politics at the moment is law and order. It’s not just the high-profile cases of Sabina Nessa and Sarah Everard, but a growing sentiment among all voters that they don’t feel as safe as they once did. The Tories know this, which is why they’ve brought forward their controversial Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. Labour opposes that legislation largely on the basis that it includes an illiberal crackdown on the right to protest, though I understand that the shadow home affairs team were concerned that the party’s opposition to the Bill would undermine Labour’s claims to be tough on crime.

Today Nick Thomas-Symonds, the shadow Home Secretary, tried to move the focus away from the Bill and onto the lack of faith he said frontline police officers have in the Conservatives. He told the hall:

‘The safety of our communities is at risk from this government.