A Tory row has erupted over an attack ad against Labour using an image of a BBC journalist swearing.
The official Conservative X/Twitter account shared a picture of BBC presenter Maryam Moshiri giving the middle finger live on air.
The caption said: “Labour when you ask for their plans to tackle illegal migration.”
But the post just after 3pm today has sparked fury from some within the party who demanded for it to be deleted.
Senior Conservative MP Alicia Kearns said: “Amazed this has not – despite requests – been taken down, it is beneath us.”
Former Defence Select Committee chair Tobias Ellwood added: “Please delete this post.”
But the post was backed by other Tory MPs, with Stoke-on-Trent North’s Jonathan Gullis saying: “I approve this message.”
It has also attracted criticism from Labour and the SNP.
The image was taken from footage of a BBC news bulletin yesterday when the presenter raised her middle finger to the camera without realising the broadcast had begun.
She has since said sorry if she “offended or upset anyone” over what she described as a “private joke” with colleagues.
The controversial attack ad comes as Rishi Sunak is facing turmoil over his Rwanda plan.
Robert Jenrick dramatically quit as immigration yesterday after emergency legislation aimed at getting the scheme up and running was unveiled.
Tories on the right of the party fear it may not go far enough, but those on the centrist One Nation wing of the party are “very nervous” about the implications of the Bill.
