UK Election Faces Threats from Foreign Interference, Deputy PM Warns
Britain’s deputy prime minister, Oliver Dowden, warned on Sunday about potential interference in the upcoming general election from hostile actors, including Russia, who may attempt to influence the democratic process.
The election, scheduled for Thursday, is anticipated to see the opposition Labour Party oust the ruling Conservatives. Dowden’s comments followed reports by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that uncovered five Facebook pages spreading pro-Kremlin propaganda. Some of these pages encouraged support for the hard-right Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage, which poses a significant challenge to the Conservatives in the upcoming vote.
Dowden told Sky News, “There is a threat in all elections, and indeed we see it in this election from hostile state actors seeking to influence the outcome of the election campaign. Russia is a prime example of this, and this is a classic example from the Russian playbook.” He noted that while these examples were “relatively typical, low-level stuff,” the threat remains.
Farage, known for his admiration of former US president Donald Trump, dismissed claims of Russian interference as “cobblers,” a British slang term for nonsense. Farage has faced criticism during the campaign for suggesting that the West provoked Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. His anti-immigration party is expected by pollsters to take votes away from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives, potentially contributing to a landslide victory for the Labour Party.
Despite Labour’s significant lead in the polls, with more than a 20-point advantage, Sunak remained optimistic, stating on Sunday, “I’m fighting very hard and I think people are waking up to the real danger of what a Labour government means.”
Labour, led by Keir Starmer, received further endorsements over the weekend. The influential right-of-centre newspaper, the Sunday Times, threw its support behind Labour, as did music icon Elton John, adding momentum to their campaign as the election approaches.
