Tories split on CCHQ attack ads

It’s five weeks to go until the local elections and Tory high command are stepping up their attacks. On Monday, the Conservatives released the first of several videos focusing on Labour controlled administrations. A 70-second, black-and-white video attacked Sadiq Khan’s record and gravely intoned that ‘London under Labour has become a crime capital of the world.’ But the in-house clip, voiced by an unknown actor, has since divided opinion among Tories, amid controversy over its use of footage from a New York subway station.

Mayoral candidate Susan Hall was quick to distance herself from the adverts, telling the BBC that the video had ‘nothing to do’ with her team. Hall’s spokesman subsequently confirmed that the video had been created by Conservative Party headquarters. Assembly Member Andrew Boff went further, telling Politico: ‘Susan Hall has a hugely positive message, and one that is independent of the contribution of what I can only assume was an inexperienced intern at CCHQ.’