Sunak’s tweet associating Labour with ‘criminal gangs’ labelled ‘desperate and pathetic’ by shadow cabinet minister – as it happened

Rishi Sunak during a visit to Birmingham on Monday. The prime minister tweeted associating the Labour party with ‘criminal gangs’ and corrupt lawyers. Photograph: Ben Birchall/AP

5.10pm BST

Afternoon summary

• Rishi Sunak has been called “desperate and pathetic” by a member of the shadow cabinet after posting a message on Twitter saying Labour is on the side of “criminal gangs” because of its stance on the Illegal Immigration Act. (See 3.45pm.) More criticism came from Emily Thornberry, the shadow attorney general, who said Sunak was demeaning his office.

Usually, I try and maintain some sense of respect for the office of the Prime Minister, but it’s just impossible when the man doing the job is willing to demean it like this. What a desperate attempt to deflect from his own dismal failures. Utterly pathetic.

Usually, I try and maintain some sense of respect for the office of the Prime Minister, but it’s just impossible when the man doing the job is willing to demean it like this. What a desperate attempt to deflect from his own dismal failures. Utterly pathetic. pic.twitter.com/5gFwayX40U

— Emily Thornberry (@EmilyThornberry) July 25, 2023

• Britain’s plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 are “immovable” but it is time to review proposals for homeowners to replace gas boilers with heat pumps, Michael Gove has said.

• The number of households in temporary accommodation in England is at its highest since records began as charities call on “out of touch” government to ban no-fault evictions and accelerate social housebuilding.

• Wildfires in Rhodes are a “wake-up call” on the effects of the climate crisis, a UK government minister has said, as empty planes were sent to the Greek island to help bring home stranded Britons.

A member of the Society of Radiographers on a picket line outside the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton, south London. Radiographers have been on strike in NHS trusts across England today. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA

Updated at 5.15pm BST

4.43pm BST

Rishi Sunak’s latest attack on Labour (see 3.45pm) is unlikely to work, according to two public opinion experts.

Keiran Pedley from the polling firm Ipsos says that, although voters care about immigration, they don’t trust the Tories to deal with the issue.

Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives are strategically right to go big on immigration - it matters a lot to their supporters. The problem they face with immigration as a dividing line with Labour is the public don't think Sunak & Conservatives are delivering pic.twitter.com/5IEgIR99SX

— Keiran Pedley (@keiranpedley) July 25, 2023

This tweet understates the extent of the problem for Sunak. It is not just that voters think the government is doing a bad job on small boats; they think Labour would do better.

And Luke Tryl from More in Common, the group campaigning for inclusivity – which commissions a lot of public opinion research – says that people will see that the Sunak tweet is unfair, and that it will come across as inauthentic too.

Don't think this this will work
1. Voters are fair minded, they thought Labour Rishi adverts unfair they'll think this is too
2. In the mud attacks aren't congruent with Sunak's persona (authenticity matters) instead risks alienating the voters who didn't like Boris but like him. https://t.co/zkBvVtDLzL

— Luke Tryl (@LukeTryl) July 25, 2023

Updated at 4.49pm BST