As part of the push to combat Reform, the UK Migration Updates Facebook advert, paid for by the Yorkshire and Humber Labour party, reads: “Breaking news: Labour hits five year high in migrant removals.”.
Rachael Maskell, the Labour MP for York Central, whose regional party set up the UK Migration Updates page, said: “I would caution the party against raising such community tensions when we know there are so many asylum seekers who have experienced persecution in their lives.
Labour North West has used the advert on a Facebook page it has called Putting Runcorn First, which shows a large union flag but no Labour branding.
However, the adverts have caused upset among some Labour MPs and activists, who believe the party could be making life harder for asylum seekers in the UK.
Labour sources say the adverts are part of a broader push to target Labour voters thinking about defecting to Reform, which polls suggest are a growing group.
