Labour is facing a growing backlash after it shared an advert on social media that claimed Rishi Sunak does not think child sex abusers should go to prison.
The attack ad was posted yesterday and immediately proved controversial.
SNP MP John Nicolson claimed it "cheapened and debased” politics while several Scottish Labour MSPs called for it to be removed.
In a tweet pitching itself as “the party of law and order”, Labour shared a photo of the Prime Minister alongside the words: “Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesn’t.”
It comes as Labour steps up pressure on the Conservatives ahead of the next UK general election, which is likely to take place next year.
Keir Starmer must win back dozens of seats across England if his party is to stand a chance of taking power at Westminster.
Labour backbencher John McDonnell said: "This is not the sort of politics a Labour Party, confident of its own values and preparing to govern, should be engaged in. I say to the people who have taken the decision to publish this ad, please withdraw it.
"We, the Labour Party, are better than this."
Former Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard called for the advert to be removed.
Labour MSP Monica Lennon branded the advert "ill-judged".
She said: "Survivors of childhood sexual abuse deserve better from the criminal justice system and from their elected representatives. This ad is ill-judged.
"Those of us who want a Labour government deserve campaign materials we can be proud to take into our communities."
The Record understands that Scottish Labour had no involvement in the ad campaign.
But Labour stood firm following the backlash.
A spokesperson said last night: "The Conservatives have left dangerous convicted criminals free to roam the streets. Labour is the party of law and order, and we will implement tougher sentences for dangerous criminals."
A Labour shadow minister today refused to say whether she stood by the attack ad.
Shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell repeatedly refused to endorse the ad.
But she said she stood by the campaign, saying it highlighted apparent failings in the justice system.
Asked whether she stood by the message, she said: "I stand by what this tweet and this campaign is trying to highlight.
"The graphic itself, obviously, is a skit based on his own graphics that he extensively uses," she added, in an at times fiery exchange.
"I can see it's not to everybody's taste and some people won't like it.
"I didn't design the graphic but I'm here to explain what lies beneath it - which is a very serious point about what is happening to our criminal justice system, which is pretty shocking."
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