RISHI Sunak punched Keir Starmer's bruise today with a brutal attack ad that risks sparking a major row.
The new poster campaign, launched just hours after the PM repeatedly reeled off his new line in last night’s BBC debate, tells voters: “Don’t surrender your family’s future to Labour”.
Rishi Sunak told the 2.7million viewers watching the final head-to-head clash to not “surrender” to Sir Keir more than a dozen times in the spiky 75-minute contest.
The poster, featuring a pensioner, a mother and a young child holding their hands up, is the Conservatives’ most direct attack on Labour so far in the election campaign.
In last night's debate...
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It comes only days after it was reported Mr Sunak had been urged by aides to ramp up personal hits on his No.10 rival Sir Keir.
During last night’s clash, he used the “surrender” term to urge voters not to trust Labour with borders, immigration, taxes and personal finances.
In the PM’s closing remarks, he added: “If you are not certain about Labour, don’t surrender to them.”
Earlier, he accused the Labour chief of not being “straight with people” about his plans to raise taxes.
He warned voters that if they chose Labour “your family finances are going to get hammered.”
“Your taxes are going to get whacked up. Do not surrender to their tax rises.”
Despite being 20 points ahead in the polls, Sir Keir could only manage a draw with the PM in a snap YouGov poll straight after the debate.
The PM also referenced the contested £2,094 tax rise figure, triggering Sir Keir to angrily interrupt host Mishal Husain to bark: "That's a lie... he's been told not to repeat that."
Responding to the attack advert today, Sir Keir said: “I think this is really desperate stuff and I'm surprised by it.
“I think it underlines the difference between the two campaigns now.
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“They’re running a very negative campaign, nothing about the future of the country.
“I'm really pleased that we are making that positive case for the country because an election ought to be about how you're going to fix the problems and take your country forward.
“We're answering that question. “The Conservatives are getting deeper and deeper into desperation now.”
