Tonight:
2°c
Gordon Brown was today called on to apologise for a £5 million “misleading” government advert claiming success for a Labour policing policy.
The Advertising Standards Authority is expected to ban the advert which claims that ministers met a pledge for neighbourhood officers to spend 80 per cent of their time on the beat fighting crime. Only 14 per cent of overall police time is spent on the beat.
Six million leaflets containing the government's pledge have been distributed to households in a propaganda offensive which critics say amounts to Labour electioneering at state expense.
Taxpayers funded the advertisement, which was due to go out next week.
The inaccurate figures have also been used in Labour Party leaflets.
Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling wrote to the Prime Minister calling for him to withdraw it. “Labour will stop at nothing to mislead the country and they seem willing to spend huge sums of honest taxpayers' money to achieve it,” he said.
A Home Office spokesman said the Government was “extremely disappointed” and defended the advertisement: “We believe that on the beat is a recognised term for what the police do while working in neighbourhoods and engaging in communities.”
Reader views (4)
It's not known for being the LIEbore Party for nothing.
Now, how many of those responsible will lose their jobs? The Evening Standard should investigate further.
- Ralph, London, 26/03/2010 16:19
Report abuse
Now be fair when Dave's mate David Ross had the altercation with the single Lithuanain Burberry clad young lady - Five of Belgravia's finest police cars were in attendance
- Jeanette Eccles, London North West, 26/03/2010 15:47
Report abuse
That £5m should be paid back to the taxpayer from the Labour Party's own funds.
Either that, or the Conservatives and Lib Dems be given £5m each to even things up.
- John T, London, 26/03/2010 14:11
Report abuse
What percentage of leaflet receivers will know that it has been banned or see the apology? Mass targeted propaganda at its best. Good one Gordo.
What percentage of "beat time" is spent fighting crime as the PCSO's have no rights to do so anyway.
"stop or I'll say stop again" sums it up.
- Alfresco, Reading, Berkshire, 26/03/2010 12:50
Report abuse
