In the run-up to the London mayoral election on 2024-03-25, the Conservative Party faced criticism for an advertisement supporting their candidate, Susan Hall. The ad, aimed at highlighting crime in London, mistakenly used footage from Penn Station in New York, showing commuters fleeing in response to false reports of gunfire in 2017. This error, described as embarrassing by critics, was pointed out by multiple sources, including the BBC and The New York Times, leading to the video being deleted on 2024-03-26. Meanwhile, Susan Hall launched her campaign with promises to address issues such as the 'war on motorists' and to remove cycle lanes she claims cause havoc. Her campaign launch was notably low-key, taking place in a car park in Uxbridge without significant media presence or support from high-profile Conservatives such as Rishi Sunak. In contrast, Sadiq Khan, the current Mayor of London, launched his campaign with the backing of Keir Starmer, taking questions from journalists. The Conservative Party's approach to the campaign has been criticized, including the use of misleading footage and a lack of engagement with the media.
An ad for the British Conservative mayoral candidate Susan Hall about crime in London showed terrified commuters running. But the footage used was from Penn Station in New York of people responding to false reports of gunfire in 2017. https://t.co/NUW3b0r7t7
Conservative London mayoral advert shows New York instead of London https://t.co/mHR5fh7Bp7
Sadiq Khan blasts Tory 'lies' over campaign video showing New York railway station stampede https://t.co/drQPCriyy2
The clip attacking the London Mayor had been posted on X using footage of a stampede in a New York subway station https://t.co/bmHwidBq6h
Tory mayor race ad shows New York instead of London https://t.co/LUiQur2uaf
UPDATE: An advert in support of the Conservative's London mayoral candidate that featured scenes from New York instead of the capital has been deleted. https://t.co/fg9CIewu5s
The good news: The Conservatives deleted their video trying to pass off New York as London. The bad news: The new version is no better. https://t.co/pvUmwGba1x
Tories delete 'London crime' video that used footage of New York Metro https://t.co/ohJx60q8ZP
'Tear out havoc-causing cycle lanes', says Susan Hall as she vows to end 'war on motorists' - @rachaelburford interview with the Tory mayoral candidate https://t.co/9rZCIsg9Z0
Deleted: Tory attack video about crime in London using film of New York and housing in Peterborough which isn't run by Labour but does have a Tory MP. And now a Tory fake "local" family. Where else does it supposedly live? https://t.co/QZljZO46xs
Well this is embarrassing. Cchq uses footage (scroll to 1m07s, the rest really isn't worth your time) of a NEW YORK SUBWAY station to attack @SadiqKhan. This, days after @RishiSunak was so embarrassed by the Tory candidate he didn't even turn up to her launch. Or invite media. https://t.co/z5E0JiFVMT
Sadiq Khan has been arrogantly ignoring Londoners for eight years now. It's time for a Mayor who listens. Vote for Susan Hall on 2nd May. https://t.co/sPKEPbxRhR
Sadiq Khan launched his campaign last week alongside Keir Starmer, and took lots of questions from journalists. Susan Hall launched her campaign in what looks like a car park in Uxbridge, with Rishi Sunak nowhere to be seen and seemingly no media invited either https://t.co/McxQKTYk3W
Susan Hall takes swipe at Sadiq Khan on first day of mayor campaign trail - @RachaelBurford reports https://t.co/dBF6pcm7KF