What was that dreadful thud? The sound of Keir Starmer falling off his high horse

‘Quite how soon Keir Starmer will wish to emerge again after this ad is unclear – as is quite how much he will wish to bang on about decency for a bit.’ Starmer at Burnley College, Lancashire, 4 April 2023. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

Encouraging news for anyone who fears the next election might be some fight for the moral high ground, as Labour releases a new attack ad. Have you seen this one? If not, do try to catch it before they take it down and tacitly blame someone nameless. It depicts a smiling Rishi Sunak next to the inquiry: “Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesn’t.” Oh dear. In case that grim message was too opaque for you, Sunak’s famous signature is added, above the explainer: “Under the Tories, 4,500 adults convicted of assaulting children under 16 served no prison time. Labour will lock up dangerous child abusers.”

Labour is the party of law and order. pic.twitter.com/EP6VXToK9z

— The Labour Party (@UKLabour) April 6, 2023