This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/23/change-uk-facebook-online-adverts-spending-eu-elections

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Change UK pays for Facebook ad blitz amid dismal EU poll ratings Change UK pays for Facebook ad blitz amid dismal EU poll ratings
(25 days later)
Change UK has run a last-minute Facebook advertising campaign to try to shore up its support amid dismal poll ratings for the European elections, but most other parties have mostly avoided large spending on online campaigning.Change UK has run a last-minute Facebook advertising campaign to try to shore up its support amid dismal poll ratings for the European elections, but most other parties have mostly avoided large spending on online campaigning.
The upstart pro-EU political party, formerly known as the Independent Group, spent £87,000 on Facebook adverts in the seven days up to Wednesday, becoming the biggest single political advertiser on the social networking site, following predictions it could fail to elect a single MEP and faced with the potential resignation of the party’s interim leader, Heidi Allen.The upstart pro-EU political party, formerly known as the Independent Group, spent £87,000 on Facebook adverts in the seven days up to Wednesday, becoming the biggest single political advertiser on the social networking site, following predictions it could fail to elect a single MEP and faced with the potential resignation of the party’s interim leader, Heidi Allen.
Not all Change UK’s adverts have hit the spot. In one example highlighted by iNews, the party spent at least £1,300 promoting Facebook adverts saying it was campaigning to “remain in the UK”.Not all Change UK’s adverts have hit the spot. In one example highlighted by iNews, the party spent at least £1,300 promoting Facebook adverts saying it was campaigning to “remain in the UK”.
'Politics isn't going to wait for you': has Change UK missed its moment?'Politics isn't going to wait for you': has Change UK missed its moment?
But the relatively meagre outlay required to take the top spot also reflects how little major political parties are spending on the contest, in order to elect politicians to a parliament the UK may shortly leave.But the relatively meagre outlay required to take the top spot also reflects how little major political parties are spending on the contest, in order to elect politicians to a parliament the UK may shortly leave.
While the Conservatives and Labour spent millions of pounds on online campaigning during the 2017 general election, they have barely bothered this time.While the Conservatives and Labour spent millions of pounds on online campaigning during the 2017 general election, they have barely bothered this time.
The Tories have spent £16,000 on Facebook adverts in the past week, less than the Green party, with many of their adverts campaigning on issues such as NHS funding rather than Brexit. The promotional videos that did mention the EU were mainly attacks on Nigel Farage’s Brexit party.The Tories have spent £16,000 on Facebook adverts in the past week, less than the Green party, with many of their adverts campaigning on issues such as NHS funding rather than Brexit. The promotional videos that did mention the EU were mainly attacks on Nigel Farage’s Brexit party.
Labour has only spent £25,000 in the final week of campaigning, with the party promoting adverts on fracking and fox hunting rather than making a clear pitch to voters on its stance on Brexit.Labour has only spent £25,000 in the final week of campaigning, with the party promoting adverts on fracking and fox hunting rather than making a clear pitch to voters on its stance on Brexit.
The online campaign has been substantially different from the 2017 general election, when a new range of viral pro-Jeremy Corbyn websites dominated Facebook. Labour has been badly affected by changes to the social network’s algorithm, which now prioritises more traditional news sources.The online campaign has been substantially different from the 2017 general election, when a new range of viral pro-Jeremy Corbyn websites dominated Facebook. Labour has been badly affected by changes to the social network’s algorithm, which now prioritises more traditional news sources.
New transparency tools also show the substantially reduced level of spending, especially compared with the secretive pro-Brexit campaigns run by Lynton Crosby’s company over the past year.New transparency tools also show the substantially reduced level of spending, especially compared with the secretive pro-Brexit campaigns run by Lynton Crosby’s company over the past year.
The Brexit party has focused on going viral of its own accord, while only spending £20,000 on adverts. Its online campaign operation is overseen by Steve Edgington, 19, who previously worked for the pro-Brexit website Westmonster, set up by the businessman and Leave.EU co-founder Arron Banks.The Brexit party has focused on going viral of its own accord, while only spending £20,000 on adverts. Its online campaign operation is overseen by Steve Edgington, 19, who previously worked for the pro-Brexit website Westmonster, set up by the businessman and Leave.EU co-founder Arron Banks.
The party declined to give details of who was producing its slick campaign videos. The Brexit party has a relatively small 110,000 Facebook followers, substantially fewer than Ukip.The party declined to give details of who was producing its slick campaign videos. The Brexit party has a relatively small 110,000 Facebook followers, substantially fewer than Ukip.
But it claims to have had far greater engagement from its Facebook followers than all the other major parties combined – suggesting the Brexit party has a small but highly enthusiastic online fanbase.But it claims to have had far greater engagement from its Facebook followers than all the other major parties combined – suggesting the Brexit party has a small but highly enthusiastic online fanbase.
“Nigel’s always been brilliant at knowing how to do social networking without knowing how to turn on a computer,” said a Brexit party source. They also said the model for this campaign was the Italian politician Beppe Grillo. “People are saying that we’re copying Trump and Bannon, but that’s bollocks. It’s all Five Star,” the source added.“Nigel’s always been brilliant at knowing how to do social networking without knowing how to turn on a computer,” said a Brexit party source. They also said the model for this campaign was the Italian politician Beppe Grillo. “People are saying that we’re copying Trump and Bannon, but that’s bollocks. It’s all Five Star,” the source added.
Despite concerns about Facebook groups being used to spread far-right hate in the run-up to the EU elections, research from Oxford University’s internet institute on online disinformation found “overall levels of ‘junk news’ circulating in the run-up to the 2019 elections are relatively low”.Despite concerns about Facebook groups being used to spread far-right hate in the run-up to the EU elections, research from Oxford University’s internet institute on online disinformation found “overall levels of ‘junk news’ circulating in the run-up to the 2019 elections are relatively low”.
Change UK – The Independent Group Independent Group for Change
European parliamentary elections 2019European parliamentary elections 2019
European electionsEuropean elections
BrexitBrexit
AdvertisingAdvertising
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content