Boris Johnson’s first night in No 10 marked by paid social media blitz
The Conservatives marked the national disaster of Boris Johnson’s tenure as Prime Minister with a massive flood of paid advertising on social media, strengthening expectations of an early general election.
The Tories placed no fewer than 554 ads just on Facebook on Wednesday night.
The social media blitz underscores not only the likelihood that a general election is likely before the end of this year, but also their fear of Labour’s organic, grassroots strength and alternative news channels on social media platforms. What the Conservatives can’t emulate, they will try to fake by throwing money at it.
Westminster insiders now also expect an escalation in the Tories’ dirty tricks on social media, with the profusion of bots, sock-puppets and paid accounts likely to grow even further as the Tories try to ‘muddy the waters‘ and prevent inconvenient news reaching voters and activists. Johnson’s appointment of hard right leave and anti-tax campaigners to his media team is another signal.
The diligence and commitment of Labour’s supporters in counteracting the right’s fake-news assaults, trolling and spending are more important than ever.
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