Tories are amplifying conspiracy theories of foreign billionaires, says Nandy
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The Tories are amplifying the “noise and conspiracy theories” of foreign billionaires, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has said. Ms Nandy heard that attempts to “throw off public discourse do not have Britain’s best interests at heart”, and was asked if the Government is “taking the threat of foreign disinformation seriously”.
In recent weeks tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has used his social media platform X to wage an online campaign against the Government over the issue of grooming gangs. The South African-born billionaire has accused the Prime Minister of being “complicit in the rape of Britain” over his record as a former director of public prosecutions, and called safeguarding minister Jess Phillips a “rape genocide apologist”.
He has also asked his 212 million followers whether America should “liberate” the UK from its “tyrannical government”. In light of Mr Musk’s comments, a spokesperson for Kemi Badenoch said she condemns the abuse directed at Ms Phillips but the Tory leader remains a fan of the billionaire’s work.
During Culture, Media and Sport questions in the Commons, Labour MP for Stratford and Bow Uma Kumaran said: “In the past few weeks, we have seen the spread of disinformation using online platforms and the proliferation of misinformation on an industrial scale.
“Attempts to destabilise the Government and throw off public discourse do not have Britain’s best interests at heart. “I have been contacted by multiple constituents in Stratford and Bow who, like me, are deeply concerned about the unchecked ability of foreign billionaires to impact British democracy and news and as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I have heard witnesses talk about the impact on this globally.
