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Labour's Campaign Stunts Backfire: A Timeline of Past Mistakes

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Labour's recent controversy over a political attack ad claiming Rishi Sunak does not think child sex abusers should go to prison has sparked criticism across the political spectrum. The party's history is marked with similar campaign stunts that have backfired. From Jeremy Corbyn's train stunt to Harriet Harman's pink bus, Labour's attempts to win votes have often ended in embarrassment. Here's a look at some of the most notable examples:

Key Takeaways:

  • Labour's Corbyn tried to draw attention to poor train service by sitting in a packed carriage, but the stunt backfired when CCTV images showed him walking past empty seats.
  • The party's Ed Stone, unveiled by former leader Ed Miliband days before the 2015 general election, was quickly dubbed the 'Ed Stone' due to its resemblance to a headstone.
  • Harriet Harman's pink mini-bus, used to campaign on women's issues, was criticized for being "patronising" and "girly."
  • Labour's candidate Tasmin Dunwoody was ordered to tear up campaign leaflets branding her opponent a "Tory toff."
  • Former Labour leader Keir Starmer was falsely accused of failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile while director of the Crown Prosecution Service by Boris Johnson.
  • The Conservative Party was accused of misleading the public after changing its Twitter page to 'factcheckUK' during the 2019 election campaign.
  • Rishi Sunak's photo op with a Kia Rio at a Sainsbury's garage, used to promote his 5p cut to fuel duty, sparked incredulity among Twitter users.
  • Conservative MP Lee Anderson was accused of "harassing" his own staff member and using her as a political football in a row over food bank use.
  • Grant Shapps apologized for "inadvertently" airbrushing former PM Boris Johnson out of a photo celebrating a space launch in Cornwall.

Statistics:

  • 4,500 adults convicted of sexually assaulting children under-16 served no prison time under the Tories, according to Labour analysis of Ministry of Justice data.
  • £7,1614 was the cost of engraving Labour's Ed Stone, which bore a resemblance to a headstone.
  • £30,000 was the salary of Katy, the office staff member used as an example by Lee Anderson to argue that food banks are not necessary for those earning below 30k.
  • 9 million was the number of women who did not vote in the 2010 general election.
  • 2011 was the year Jimmy Savile died without being charged for any crimes.

Sources:

  • Twitter: "Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesn't." (April 6, 2023)
  • The Guardian: "The Ed Stone: a monument to Labour's failed election campaign" (May 2015)
  • Virgin: "CCTV footage shows Jeremy Corbyn walking past empty seats on train" (August 2016)
  • BBC Reality Check: "No evidence Keir Starmer was involved in Jimmy Savile prosecution decision" (January 2023)
  • Twitter: "Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) April 23, 2022"
  • The Telegraph: "Grant Shapps apologises for 'inadvertently' airbrushing Boris Johnson out of photo" (January 2023)
  • Virgin Orbit: "Historic flight: The first-ever orbital launch from British soil" (June 2022)

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