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Tories spend more than £100,000 a month on Facebook - but still can't beat Britain First Tories spend more than £100,000 a month on Facebook - but still can't beat Britain First
(34 minutes later)
David Cameron’s Tory party is reportedly spending more than £100,000 a month – or well in excess of £1 million a year – on its Facebook presence.David Cameron’s Tory party is reportedly spending more than £100,000 a month – or well in excess of £1 million a year – on its Facebook presence.
An invoice acquired by the BBC for September 2014 showed the party paid almost £123,000 for services from the social media organisation, including around £25,000 on paid-for “likes”.An invoice acquired by the BBC for September 2014 showed the party paid almost £123,000 for services from the social media organisation, including around £25,000 on paid-for “likes”.
Similar figures have emerged via the Political Scrapbook blog for November 2014 - £115,000 spent, of which around £36,000 went on likes.Similar figures have emerged via the Political Scrapbook blog for November 2014 - £115,000 spent, of which around £36,000 went on likes.
Labour have long said they expect to be outspent by their Conservative rivals, to the point where they use it as a campaigning issue, and told the BBC their equivalent spend was less than £10,000.Labour have long said they expect to be outspent by their Conservative rivals, to the point where they use it as a campaigning issue, and told the BBC their equivalent spend was less than £10,000.
But while the Tories see the money as a good investment in their attempts to reach more young voters, it does not appear to be working as well as they might like.But while the Tories see the money as a good investment in their attempts to reach more young voters, it does not appear to be working as well as they might like.
In terms of overall support, Britain First is almost twice as popular as the Conservative Party on Facebook, amassing nearly 650,000 likes compared to the Tories’ 340,000.In terms of overall support, Britain First is almost twice as popular as the Conservative Party on Facebook, amassing nearly 650,000 likes compared to the Tories’ 340,000.
That’s despite descriptions of Britain First as a group “that supports fascist views”, according to the Daily Mail, and which is happy to describe itself as a “street defence organisation”. The far-right political party has been heavily criticised for the way it "hijacks" emotive images and issues such as the Remembrance Poppy or the murdered soldier Lee Rigby, in a way that would be impossible for a respectable political party to recreate. Many who "like" what Britain First produce don't realise the full nature of the group behind it.
Britain First has been criticised in the past for the way it "hijacks" emotive images and issues in its posts, such as the Remembrance Poppy or the murdered soldier Lee Rigby, in a way that would be impossible for a respectable political party to recreate. Many who "like" what Britain First produce don't realise the full nature of the group behind it.
Meanwhile, today will see all people of voting age forced to engage with politics one way or another on Facebook.Meanwhile, today will see all people of voting age forced to engage with politics one way or another on Facebook.
As part of National Voter Registration Day, supported by the Electoral Commission, a message will be displayed at the top of everyone’s newsfeed directing them to register to vote through the Gov.uk portal. It marks the first time that voters have been allowed to register online.As part of National Voter Registration Day, supported by the Electoral Commission, a message will be displayed at the top of everyone’s newsfeed directing them to register to vote through the Gov.uk portal. It marks the first time that voters have been allowed to register online.
It’s yet another example of the importance of online campaigning to even the most traditional of parties.It’s yet another example of the importance of online campaigning to even the most traditional of parties.