THE LABOUR Party in Wales has pulled an election broadcast featuring a “fake nurse” who is really an actor.
In the film, which was shown on Tuesday on the BBC, ITV and S4C, the nurse tells viewers how a trade deal with US president Donald Trump is a threat to the NHS.
The actor, dressed in a blue NHS style uniform, told viewers: “We will increase the funding available to our health service.
“Labour is the party that created the NHS, and we will defend it against Tory attempts to sell it off for parts to Donald Trump.”
But Labour was left red-faced when it emerged the nurse slamming the Tories was in fact an actress.
Broadcast guidelines state: “The use of reconstructions or actors in a broadcast must be made clear to the audience”.
Labour has said they will not work with the production company behind the video again.
Plaid Cymru branded the advert “fake” and attacked the Labour party’s record on the NHS in Wales.
Plaid Cymru’s Jonathan Edwards, who is standing for re-election in Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, said: “I can see why Labour felt they had to use a fake nurse in their political advert as their woeful record on the NHS in Wales means they have everything to hide.
“Issues with the NHS Wales fall squarely at the door of the Labour Party who have been running it for decades.
“Plaid Cymru has a plan to properly invest in the Welsh NHS to recruit 10,000 more doctors and 5,000 more nurses. By the looks of it, Labour couldn’t find one.”
A Welsh Labour spokesman said: “It has been brought to our attention that a private production company used an actor for our PPB (party political broadcast) without permission.
“We have spoken with the company involved, withdrawn the broadcast from future use and we will not be working with the production company in future.”
Earlier this week we reported how the Labour Party was facing a probe over fake news post claiming the Tories will send 500m of NHS money to Donald Trump every week.
Meanwhile the Tories were criticised last week after footage of Keir Starmer on GMB was doctored to show him unable to answer a question on Labour’s Brexit position.
