Lucy Powell, the deputy leader of the Labour Party, has accused Reform UK of destabilising British democracy by spreading divisive material amplified by bots and troll farms. In an article and interview, she called for tighter regulations on social media giants to combat misinformation, arguing that the online space is vulnerable to wealthy individuals and state actors.
Powell's Warning on Misinformation
Speaking to the Guardian, Powell stated: 'The spread of mis- and disinformation is a real and present danger to our democracy.' She highlighted the multimillion-pound donations bolstering Reform's election campaign, which fund their powerful online operations. She argued that Nigel Farage and his party pose a threat to democracy and that the law should be strengthened to address the scourge of false information.
Powell noted that Reform's exploitation of online algorithms is well documented, as is their benefit from bots and troll farms to amplify support. A Reform spokesperson dismissed these claims as 'completely untrue', branding Powell a 'conspiracy theorist' and urging Labour to focus on fixing its own failures rather than demanding state censorship.
Elections Bill and Regulation
Powell's comments come as MPs push for tighter regulation of misinformation in the forthcoming Representation of the People Bill. The government's new elections bill includes votes at 16, a ban on cryptocurrency donations, and caps on overseas donations, but critics argue it does not go far enough. Powell called for stronger measures, saying: 'We should look to strengthen the elections bill as much as possible to tighten up the rules.'
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall acknowledged concerns about social media during crises, such as riots or unrest, and indicated the government is considering additional steps. She referenced a parliamentary report calling for Ofcom to implement crisis response protocols for platforms. However, Powell advocates more decisive action, describing the lack of regulation as a 'fundamental threat to our democracy'.
Personal Concerns from Powell
On the Forde podcast, Powell shared personal worries about the impact on young people: 'I've got children, my eldest is 22, and a 16-year-old and a 13-year-old. I know what they see and what they believe. It's frightening.' She added that viral misinformation often appears on doorsteps, originating from social media rather than mainstream media.
Powell emphasised the need to regulate algorithms and the business models of big tech, as well as political funding from abroad. She wrote that Farage is 'importing all the worst populist tactics which have undermined democracy elsewhere to Britain', referencing his acceptance of a £5m gift from a Thailand-based billionaire, now under investigation by the standards commissioner.
Powell concluded: 'In the fast-paced world we live in, with new technology emerging at breakneck pace, the integrity of our electoral system is a watching brief.'
