It's not over yet, look at how England hit back, say Tories

Last-ditch warning from Conservatives as Labour gets personal on Sunak

- Jitendra Joshi

LABOUR today targeted Rishi Sunak with a highly personal new ad campaign as the Conservatives warned that their opponents were intent on “permanent” government.

Starting the final stretch before this week’s election, the Tories denied they were in defeatist mode given Labour’s mammoth lead in the polls, with James Cleverly pointing to England’s dramatic Euro 2024 win over Slovakia. “It’s not over till it’s over,” the Home Secretary said. But Tory messaging showed the party trying to fend off a pincer movement from Labour and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, with the Liberal Democrats also in the fray across the South. Labour was fighting to counter any voter complacency that the result is a foregone conclusion. Sir Keir Starmer’s party put out an image of the Prime Minister in bed with the message: “Don’t wake up to five more years of the Tories.”

It appeared to be the most personal political attack yet on Mr Sunak and was reinforced by shadow environment secretary Steve Reed handing out pillows to journalists on the campaign trail bearing the same words and picture.

It came after Sir Keir, addressing Labour volunteers in central London this weekend, urged voters to deliver a “democratic reckoning” as he was endorsed by stars including Sir Elton John, James Norton and Beverley Knight.

Framing his message for the final week, the Labour leader urged the public “don’t forget what they have done”, listing Partygate, Covid contracts, “the failure to invest, the trips to the bookies, the decimation of your public services”.