Revealed: Tory candidates issued with attack manuals on how to smear rivals
Party’s dossier contains dubious and outdated claims about Lib Dems and Labour
Party’s dossier contains dubious and outdated claims about Lib Dems and Labour
Conservative candidates in the general election have been issued with a detailed dossier on how to attack Labour and Liberal Democrat rivals which contains numerous rehashed and potentially misleading claims, the Guardian can reveal.
The documents accuse the Liberal Democrats of pushing “pro-pimp” policies and sex work as a career for schoolchildren.They also reheat a discredited claim that Labour’s policy on free movement would lead to 840,000 migrants coming to the UK each year.
Drafted by the Conservative research department, the documents are designed to provide candidates with approved messages to use on doorsteps across the country.
One 17-page briefing note is specifically for Tories in seats where the main challenge comes from Labour. Another 19-page document is for candidates fighting a Liberal Democrat threat.
Many of the statements within them are sourced from comments made several years ago, or by local party members, and do not accurately reflect the current positions of opposition parties.
Some draw on pledges made in the run-up to the 2015 election, or take statements out of context.
The document on how to attack Labour focuses on the economy and includes warnings that the party’s policies would cost the nation £1.2tn, and that every taxpayer
The document on how to attack Labour focuses on the economy and includes warnings that the party’s policies would cost the nation £1.2tn, and that every taxpayer
could expect a bill for £2,400 to install Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister. The claims were widely debunked when made two weeks ago.
