THE Foreign Office is to probe claims that an Auchtermuchty-based, government-backed firm set up to tackle Russian disinformation has campaigned against Jeremy Corbyn.
The Institute for Statecraft, based in Gateside Mill, has received hundreds of thousands of pounds in Foreign Office money to combat Kremlin propaganda, but according to the Sunday Mail, leaked documents show it promoted newspaper articles critical of the Labour leader.
READ MORE: Labour hunting cross-party support for 'alternative Brexit'
One called Corbyn a “useful idiot”. It added: “His open visceral anti-westernism helped the Kremlin cause, as surely as if he had been secretly peddling Westminster tittle-tattle for money.”
Others targeted Corbyn’s right-hand-man, Seumas Milne. The Institute for Statecraft retweeted a report in the Times that said: “Milne is not a spy – that would be beneath him. But what he has done, wittingly or unwittingly, is work with the Kremlin agenda.”
The Institute for Statecraft’s Integrity Initiative was set up in 2015 to “counter disinformation and other forms of malign influence being conducted by states and sub-state actors seeking to interfere in democratic processes and to undermine public confidence in national political institutions”.
Last year they were paid £296,500 by the Foreign Office. This financial year, the sum was due to rise to £1,961,000.
Labour’s Emily Thornberry said question needed to be asked: “It is simply outrageous that the clearly mis-named ‘Integrity Initiative’ – funded by the Foreign Office to the tune of £2.25 million over the past two years – has routinely been using its Twitter feed to disseminate personal attacks and smears against the leader of the opposition, the Labour Party and Labour officials,” she said.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Foreign Office minister Alan Duncan said he had ordered an immediate investigation.
READ MORE: UK Labour pledge more powers for Scotland with a straight face
“I don’t know the facts but if there is any kind of organisation for which we are paying which is involved in domestic politics in that way, I would totally condemn it, and I have already over the weekend asked for a report to be on my desk by 10 o’clock this morning to say if there is any such activity,” he said.
The Institute of Statecraft said they were not a partisan organisation: “At no time has the Integrity Initiative engaged in party political activity and would never take up a party-political stance.
“Disinformation and malign influence from rogue states and certain non-state actors are a threat to democratic values and transcend any party political cause.”
Supporters of the group pointed out that it had also shared articles critical of the Tories and the SNP.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel