[#Thread - Rant about British Politics and Disinformation] 1/ We are reaching an extremely alarming stage of the normalization of deliberate disinformation. In recent days we have seen Tories intentionally mis-edit @Keir_Starmer 's interview, create a false fact-checking account
@Keir_Starmer 2/ & create a fake labour manifesto website with the url labourmanifesto.co.uk . As a consequence, they have been condemned by Twitter, and even @piersmorgan - which really shows how low they have sunk. (That's not a dig at Piers Morgan, simply a reflection he's called it out)
@Keir_Starmer @piersmorgan 3/ I say normalization because Tory politicians, including Johnson himself, owes his 'success' to disinformation. Remember the lie on the bus, #Brexit? In the recent #bbcqt the first question of Johnson literally was about his lack of trustworthiness. Of course Johnson laughed
@Keir_Starmer @piersmorgan 4/ it off because he knows he can. The campaign structure around on him is not disinformation through error or misjudgment, but disinformation through deliberate malice and strategy. The Tories in particular have gotten away with it for so long, they are exploiting this impunity
@Keir_Starmer @piersmorgan 5/ With no consequence to this disinformation, and no censure, it can be added to the arsenal of legitimate tactics deployed by a party who clearly have little ethical compass. I mean, if they don't care about austerity why should they care about simple lies or falsehoods?
@Keir_Starmer @piersmorgan 6/ If you unshackle an elite class, with little duty of care or concern to ordinary people, from any sufficient legal frameworks limiting immoral behaviour, they will abuse their power to the extent necessary to win. Disinformation isn't an entity of itself, it's the result of
@Keir_Starmer @piersmorgan 7/ those desirous of some end, whether power or money (usually both), seeking to legitimize the pursuit of their objective to make it palatable to those who may either assist or obstruct them. Boris would laugh any accusation off as 'banter' probably, because elites can do that
@Keir_Starmer @piersmorgan 8/ The manifesto website, the video edit, the change of the Twitter account name - all pushed the boundaries of acceptable public debate in a democracy. Yet they succeeded, as there was little official consequence. It blows my mind that there is not sufficient outrage about it,
9/ but then again, there is so much to be outraged about its hard to parse all these concerns into an effective articulation of political frustration. Those who brought you #Brexit are continuing to show their true colours, yet the UK just watches ignorantly on.
10/ Democracy is a relatively meaningless term in itself, although has been weaponized by all sides in the Brexit debate. However, if you believe democracy is not just majoritarianism, I.e. that it should be a system of government that allows a polity to forge a common destiny
11/ through peaceful elections founded on intelligent and well- informed debates then you should be worried. However, if you think democracy is just about winning in order to defend your own interest, and should be won at any cost, then you probably wont care. Sad thing is
12/ I think a lot of people just don't care. What else would explain the Tory's behaviour.
