Emily Thornberry has been torn apart on Radio 4 over Labour’s attack on Rishi Sunak. She was asked whether Sir Keir Starmer objected to sentencing guidelines, introduced in 2012, which allowed “some sex offenders of children not to go to prison”. In a Twitter campaign, Labour has since launched an attack on Rishi Sunak for those guidelines.
Pressed on the guidance on Radio 4, Ms Thornberry claimed: “I don’t know the details of it, otherwise I would answer it”.
The Radio 4 presenter said: “What the sentencing guidelines suggest, is that not all child sex abusers should get an automatic prison sentence. Those are the sentencing guidelines set down by the relevant institution, the sentencing council. Sir Keir Starmer was a member of that institution when it set down those guidelines. Did he object at the time?”
Ms Thornberry began to respond, saying: “There is a proactive role that parliament can take -“
But she was pressed by the presenter, who said: “Did he object at the time?”
Ms Thornberry hit back: “I wasn’t in the meeting and I don’t know what you’re talking about”.
Labour MPs are said to be furious about the party advert which claimed Rishi Sunak does not think child sex abusers should go to prison.
They have warned the Leader of the Opposition that the adverts may damage the party’s standing in “blue wall” seats in the south of England.
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