Rayner says Labour attack ad was ‘hard-hitting’ but refuses to give full backing

Angela Rayner, who said the advert had ‘caught the public’s attention’. Photograph: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

Labour’s deputy leader has refused to endorse a controversial attack advert from the party, but said it had served its purpose by drawing attention to the government’s “failure” to crack down on crime.

Angela Rayner claimed she had not shared the ad on social media since it was posted last week because she had been spending Easter with family, and denied it was because she was “holding her nose” owing to personal reservations.