Conservatives remove advertisement criticizing Sadiq Khan by mistakenly showcasing New York City footage rather than London's images
In the race for the mayoral position in London, Conservative politician Susan Hall is running with the campaign slogan "a mayor who listens." However, her campaign video has come under scrutiny for misleading claims about the city's crime rate and safety.
According to PA Media, the incumbent mayor's source claimed that Hall's campaign is a deeply misleading attack talking down London. The video, which has since been deleted, claimed that London is gripped by rising crime, a statement that has been described as inaccurate.
The video, shown in black and white with a US narrator, used footage from New York City's Penn Station, not London. The footage in the campaign ad was originally from a false report of gunfire in 2017 in New York City, as reported by political journalist Paul Waugh.
The video falsely claimed a 54% increase in knife crime since the current mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, was elected. However, a fact check from The Guardian found that people in London are less likely to be victims of crime than the national average. The campaign ad also claimed that London citizens stay inside due to crime, which contradicts the fact check.
Susan Hall's campaign promises include increasing policing, scrapping Ultra Low Emissions Zones, and building more affordable homes for families. Despite the controversy surrounding her campaign video, it remains to be seen how this will impact her chances in the mayoral election. The journalist who uncovered the truth about the use of misleading footage in Susan Hall's campaign advertising is not identified in the provided search results.
The crime rate in London is 14.9% compared to 15.7% nationally, indicating that the city is actually safer than the national average. It is important for political candidates to ensure that their campaign materials are truthful and accurate to maintain the trust of the voters.
As the mayoral election approaches, Londoners will be closely watching the campaigns to determine who will best represent their interests and keep the city safe.
