Labour has a record of trying to position itself as the party of law and order. Under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, it regularly talked tough on issues such as antisocial behaviour.
The party is now preparing for local elections in England next month and also readying itself for a general election that will probably take place next year.
Labour knows it must win back lost voters, especially in the former “Red Wall” constituencies of England if it is to regain power.
To hammer home its message, it shared a hard-hitting attack advert claiming that Rishi Sunak does not think child sex abusers should go to prison.
For many, it was a step too far, with some Labour MPs and MSPs openly calling for the advert to be removed from social media.
Those who want to see Labour back in Downing Street will understand that it must woo those voters who switched to the Conservatives in 2015 and 2019, partly due to the party’s leftwards lurch under the failed leadership of Jeremy Corbyn.
But the party must make sure it does not alienate its existing support. Labour’s central mission of social justice and delivering for working families can’t be forgotten.
Given the reaction, this advert seems like a misstep from the party. Voters want a change from this dire Tory government. But they don’t want Labour drifting further to the right.
Save our Spey
Scotland is a renowned and world famous fishing destination – and nowhere more than our iconic River Spey.
One of Europe’s most important salmon rivers – as well as supporting our acclaimed whisky industry – this stunning waterway is crucial to the local economy, bringing in thousands of tourists every year.
That’s why pop-singer-turned-eco-warrior Feargal Sharkey is right to raise the alarm over the drab state of one of the Spey’s most popular stretches.
The 20-mile section around Aviemore has been classed as having been in “poor ecological condition” for two years thanks to damage from farming as well as falling water levels.
The question, as Sharkey himself puts it, is: how on Earth was this allowed to happen?
The Scottish Government and the relevant agencies must now ensure they’re doing all they can to keep every inch of this vital 107-mile river as pristine as possible.
The world-class Spey is a national treasure – and we can’t allow any part of it to deteriorate.
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