Tories delete attack ad showing New York instead of London
In a London mayoral campaign video, the party used footage of a stampede in a New York subway station.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Conservative Party has deleted an attack ad on Labour featuring scenes from New York despite the video being about London.
The clip posted on X attacking London Mayor Sadiq Khan used footage of a stampede in a New York subway station.
The ad in support of Tory mayoral candidate Susan Hall was quickly withdrawn and replaced with a video where the New York scenes had been cut.
A source close to Mr Khan said: “It’s true to form for the Tory campaign.
“It’s a deeply misleading attack intentionally talking down London, from a candidate who appears to have no love for the city she aspires to lead.”
Ms Hall is running against Labour incumbent Mr Khan in the London mayoral election on May 2.
In the original black-and-white video, the scenes of a stampede at New York’s Penn Station in 2017 were overlaid with an ominous US-accented narrator saying: “A 54% increase in knife crime since the Labour Mayor seized power has the metropolis teetering on the brink of chaos.
“And in the chaos, people seek a desperate reprieve.”
The video also warned of “squads of Ulez-enforcers dressed in black, faces covered with masks, terrorising communities at the beck and call of their Labour Mayor master, who has implemented a tax on driving, forcing people to stay inside or go underground.
“Gripped by the tendrils of rising crime, London citizens stay inside.
“The streets are quiet.”
Mr Khan took office in 2016 and is seeking an unprecedented third term in office.
The Conservatives have been contacted for comment.