Labour today stepped up its attack on Zac Goldsmith accusing him of running a “coded racist” mayoral campaign.
The party went on the offensive after a Tory “Who is Sadiq Khan?” video, criticising him over his Heathrow stance, union links and support for Jeremy Corbyn, led to a string of offensive comments on Facebook.
Labour also hit out at a Tory four-page newspaper that condemns Mr Khan as a “divisive and radical” politician.
Shadow employment minister Emily Thornberry said: “London is the most diverse and tolerant city in the world but Goldsmith and the Tories are running a divisive and dog-whistling campaign - trying to turn London’s communities against each other.”
A source close to Mr Khan branded the Tory campaign as “coded racist”.
But Mr Goldsmith’s aides dismissed the criticism as “utterly predictable” and pointed out that similar messages were put on Facebook in response to a Hanukkah post by Mr Khan.
A Goldsmith campaign spokeswoman said: “Ken Livingstone called Boris a racist in 2008 and 2012 now Ken and Corbyn’s cronies have dusted off their playbook and are doing it again.”
