An interesting article about Bywire’s owner, and source of the article above
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/unofficial-facebook-ads-blitz-voters-in-general-election-vw3gltctgELECTION 2019
Unofficial Facebook ads blitz voters in general election
Millions are being targeted by activists, whose influence is growing although they avoid official scrutiny
Michael O’Sullivan with Jeremy Corbyn
Michael O’Sullivan with Jeremy Corbyn
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A former Vote Leave official who has spent almost £20,000 on political adverts on Facebook is among activists whose under-the-radar campaigns have targeted millions of voters ahead of the general election.
Michael O’Sullivan, an Irish national and campaigner for “Lexit” — left-wing Brexit — is today revealed to be behind an effort to harvest data on voters by posing as a polling company. He has also funded political adverts that have reached up to 500,000 people on Facebook in the past fortnight. His role, which emerged in an investigation by this newspaper, reignites the debate over transparency in politics.
Individuals or groups spending more than £20,000 in the run-up to an election must register with the Electoral Commission. Those who spend less do not have to meet the same standards of openness and accountability, but they wield growing influence.
O’Sullivan, 36, was a senior digital official at Vote Leave during the EU referendum. He runs Labour Future, a Facebook page that uses Labour’s logo but was previously forced to admit it has no formal links to the party. The stated goal of the page, which has 170,000 subscribers, is to reconnect with Labour’s working-class base and return to a manufacturing economy.
Since the election was called, Labour Future has disseminated 34 pro-Corbyn and anti-Liberal Democrat ads, mostly targeting men between the ages of 55 and 64. One viral advert, which has been viewed 60,000 times, uses “crying with laughter” emojis to ridicule Jo Swinson’s chances of winning the election.
Labour Future extracts data on voters by encouraging them to complete the “Big Election Survey”, which appears to be neutral and is hosted on a website called polling.org.uk. Those who click are asked their voting intention and views on Brexit and immigration. However, the survey is run by Labour Future Ltd, the sole owner of the data.
Labour Future’s Facebook page has put out anti-Lib Dem ads mostly targeting older men
Labour Future’s Facebook page has put out anti-Lib Dem ads mostly targeting older men
The legal owner of Labour Future is Brendan Chilton, 29, a Labour councillor from Kent and founder of Labour Leave, originally bankrolled by Tory and Ukip donors. He said this year that no deal was the “best possible outcome” for the UK.
Labour Future’s funding sources are unclear. It has spent thousands of pounds over the past year, but company records say it is dormant and has no assets. It is registered at a modest residential address in Ashford, Kent, thought to be Chilton’s.
O’Sullivan also owns Bywire, a website that produces flattering coverage of Corbyn and Julian Assange. It has spent £8,000 on political adverts this year.
Political campaigns that have reached millions of people in recent weeks include one by a Tory activist who has spent thousands on a Facebook page that initially seems non-political. “Right to Rent, Right To Buy, Right To Own” presents itself as a discussion board for property owners. It is run by Jennifer Powers, a pro-Brexit campaigner and corporate lobbyist.
The ‘Right to Rent, Right to Buy, Right to Own’ page has spent £1,800 on anti-Labour adverts
The ‘Right to Rent, Right to Buy, Right to Own’ page has spent £1,800 on anti-Labour adverts
The page has spent more than £1,800 on anti-Labour adverts since the election was called, including scare stories about higher taxes and landlords losing their livelihoods “overnight” under Corbyn. Two ads targeted at men aged 25-34 have been viewed by 277,000 and 347,000 users, according to Facebook data.
Working4UK, which presents itself as a business-themed page, has put out 15 ads critical of Labour aimed at older men that have been seen between 613,000 and 734,000 times. It is run by Suraj Sharma, a Tory councillor in Bromley.
Last week a minister from the Thatcher era was found to be involved in similar practices. Richard Tracey, 76, a former sports minister, runs a page called Parents’ Choice, which has posted nine ads since the election was called. His attacks on Labour’s plans to nationalise private schools have reached more than 290,000 people.
There is no suggestion that any of the pages is co-ordinated with the main parties. But they play a role in amplifying their message, with Labour and the Conservatives restricted by spending limits.
Best for Britain, a pro-EU group, has spent £84,000 in the past week, outgunning the Conservatives on £55,000 and Labour on £43,000. According to a leaked memo, the group will spend more than £200,000 on adverts in 75 seats over the coming weeks, most of them Labour-held marginals in the northwest.
Labour Future said its adverts were paid for by small donors. “These are local activists who — like us — are passionate about seeing a Labour government . . . ByWire is Mike’s personal project and all ads are paid [for] by him.”
On the subject of the Big Election Survey, it added: “Labour Future hosts polls on a neutral website address so it does not bias respondents.”
