Fact-checking the election: News industry hits back at political parties over fake newspapers

With 10 days to go until the UK goes to the polls on December 12, disinformation continues to be a stubbornly persistent theme, write Lydia Morrish and Alastair Reid.

First Draft, a global non-profit organisation, is keeping close tabs on disputed content and media manipulation during the general election campaign.

Its collaborative investigations over the last week for its CrossCheck project cover fabricated tweets attributed to Jeremy Corbyn, a “misleading” video by the BBC, councils fielding complaints from disgruntled teen voters and more disputed content in the form of fake newspapers and graphics.

Fake Corbyn tweet circulates after terror incident

On November 29 a man stabbed and killed two people, as well as injuring three others, at an event for rehabilitating prisoners in London. He was chased onto London Bridge by civilians before being shot dead by police.

As the news and rumours spread across social media and the world sought to make sense of events, some people shared a fabricated tweet from Jeremy Corbyn which accused police of “murder”.

This should hardly need saying, but these are fake Jeremy Corbyn tweets about #LondonBridge. They're not on his timeline, not on @deletedbyMPs (via @brokenbottleboy) pic.twitter.com/HnQODYDpq0

— Alastair Reid (@ajreid) November 29, 2019

There is no evidence the tweets had been sent. First Draft is continuing to investigate.

Fake news(papers) continue to roll off the political press

Following the slew of party campaign materials masquerading as newspapers that First Draft has uncovered over the election campaign, the News Media Association released a statement criticising political parties for their tactics.

Political parties' campaigning material imitating newspapers damages trust in both news media and politicians. #trustedelectionnews #GE2019 pic.twitter.com/3m1LEDtOZr

— NMA (@newsmediaorg) November 26, 2019

The statement said local news brands “play a vital role in upholding democracy” and campaigning materials imitating newspapers “undermine and damage trust” in the news media and politicians.

But last week, First Draft uncovered fresh examples of party campaign materials of the ink-and-paper sort.

The Conservatives published a newspaper in Stevenage claiming a Brexit deal was “agreed and ready to go”. First Draft has reached out to the party for comment.

Also, a new Lib Dem paper emerged in Tunbridge Wells.

it happened to me: i got a fake Lib Dem newspaper in the post pic.twitter.com/qjV6NuYbM0

— polly smythe (@pollysmythe) November 28, 2019

Jo Swinson, the Liberal Dem leader, defended the use of newspapers as political advertising, saying the tactic was “as old as the hills”.