Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing: How The London Economic Are Hijacking ‘Your Party’

Policy Sabotage 101: How Clickbait Headlines Weaponise EU Rejoin to Fracture ‘Your Party’

“Remember, your words can plant gardens or burn whole forests down,” wrote Gemma Troy. Sometimes those words must expose the forest fires already burning, even when it means standing alone against comfortable deceptions that too many prefer to ignore.

No one relishes writing exposés, but when supposedly progressive outlets masquerade as grassroots movements while serving corporate masters, silence becomes complicity. The London Economic, that supposed beacon of “kinder, more compassionate politics”, stands exposed as something far more nefarious: a corporate propaganda vehicle masquerading as independent journalism while hijacking Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s political identity for its own agenda.

Many of us stopped engaging with The London Economic when it was quietly taken over by Greencastle Capital Ltd in 2020, a hedge fund run by David Sefton, a former oil and gas executive with deep links to the Tory Party, fossil fuel extraction in the Congo, and dodgy business dealings stretching from Lukoil to Philip Morris.

That’s not left media. That’s controlled opposition in a flat cap.

David Sefton is still a Company Director of THELONDONECONOMICNEWSPAPER LIMITED, Company number 09221879

Here’s the background… Since Greencastle Capital was struck off the Companies House register as of April 2025, we are left raising serious questions about The London Economic’s legal status and ownership transparency. Their operating company narrowly avoided the same fate, its compulsory strike-off only recently discontinued. Yet they continue soliciting donations from well-meaning supporters who believe they’re funding genuine grassroots journalism rather than a corporate front operation.

David Sefton is still a Company Director of THELONDONECONOMICNEWSPAPER LIMITED, Company number 09221879

The reality is very different, and the deception runs deeper than mere ownership obfuscation. Multiple sources within the PR industry told OpenDemocracy that The London Economic has engaged in “reputation laundering” for wealthy clients, publishing favourable articles designed to suppress negative stories on Google rankings. This represents pay-to-play journalism disguised as progressive reporting, a classic bait-and-switch that transforms social democratic rhetoric into corporate advertising.

But the most egregious violation involves their impersonation of Corbyn and Sultana’s emerging movement. The London Economic operates via The Left Bible, the “Our Party” Facebook page, deliberately creating false impressions of official affiliation with the Corbyn-Sultana project.

This isn’t mere content syndication, it’s identity theft deployed for political manipulation.

Joe Connor, Editor at The London Economic, simultaneously runs The Left Bible Facebook page and administers the self-declared “Our Party” Facebook page. Admins include Spotted News and LEFTPolitics among others  Through this network of interconnected platforms, they create artificial authority while pushing content that serves their corporate backers rather than genuine grassroots interests. The technique, called content syndication, amplifies their reach while obscuring their true allegiances.

Most damaging is their systematic campaign to steer the fledgling Corbyn-Sultana movement toward EU rejoin positions that neither leader has endorsed. Their recent article titled “Jeremy Corbyn party could make the UK rejoin EU” exemplifies this manipulation, presenting speculation as revelation while subtly pressuring the movement toward positions that would constitute political suicide.

The article’s subtitle, “The UK’s entrance to the EU is through Jeremy Corbyn”, reveals the game completely. By amplifying single voices calling for EU rejoin while presenting this as growing pressure on leadership, they manufacture consent for positions that align perfectly with their corporate backers’ interests while potentially destroying the very movement they claim to support.

https://t.co/FnxJTX6JvC

— The London Economic (@LondonEconomic) August 1, 2025

Any serious student of British politics understands that precisely this pro-EU pivot, pushed by Peter Mandelson and Keir Starmer, sabotaged Labour’s 2019 chances. Three words sealed that electoral disaster: “Get Brexit Done.” Yet The London Economic continues publishing insinuations and speculative pieces implying Corbyn supports EU return, a narrative serving their financial backers rather than political reality.

When confronted with the obvious deception in their headline claiming “Jeremy Corbyn wants to rejoin the EU,” Connor was forced to backtrack, admitting the headline was “ridiculous” and clarifying that no official policy had been set. But the damage was done, the clickbait headline had already circulated, planting seeds of division within a movement that needs unity to survive establishment assault.

This was not just speculation, it was sabotage. It took a policy consultation, cherry-picked a few voices like Liz Webster from Save British Farming, and used it to push a false narrative: that Corbyn’s party is a Trojan horse for reversing Brexit.

That headline was no mistake. Clickbait works by emotion, not fact. They know full well that 90% of people never read beyond the headline, that’s the weapon. Later, when cornered, Joe Connor himself admitted: “That headline from @LondonEconomic is ridiculous… No official policy has been set.”

That headline from @LondonEconomic is ridiculous. 🙄

They’ve gone with “Jeremy Corbyn wants to rejoin the EU” – but if you actually read it, you’ll see:

📌 It’s just a consultation on policy.
📌 Some supporters are pushing for rejoin.
📌 No official policy has been set.

Stop… pic.twitter.com/X4cEKIb1tc

— The Left Bible (@theleftbible) August 2, 2025

But by then, the damage is done…

The suggestion most people have changed their minds on Brexit… is constant, but we’ve heard that before. Remember the flood of polls before the 2019 general election? The ones pumped out by the so-called People’s Vote campaign and splashed across the Independent, Guardian, and Observer, claiming the country had turned Remain? They were bought and paid for.

When the votes were counted, the reality was stark: the public hadn’t changed their minds, and Labour was annihilated for adopting a second referendum policy. The people spoke. The establishment and the pundits just didn’t like the answer.

Funny thing, isn’t it? The People’s Vote campaign vanished almost overnight after Jeremy Corbyn stepped down as Labour leader. No more rallies, no more second referendum noise, no more daily briefings undermining Corbyn from within. It’s as if the whole operation had served its purpose, to fracture the Labour vote, sabotage the 2019 campaign, and pave the way for a leadership more palatable to the establishment. Mandelson and Starmer had done their job. The counter-revolution was complete.

Let’s be absolutely clear: neither Jeremy Corbyn nor Zarah Sultana have ever called for the UK to rejoin the EU. In fact, both understand, as many voters did back in 2019 and even more do now, that reopening the Brexit debate is a fast track to electoral oblivion. The idea remains political poison for anyone serious about reconnecting with disillusioned working-class communities.

This isn’t just a social media game, it’s a coordinated attempt to rewrite political memory and hijack public opinion. The truth is The London Economic has always operated with a slick veneer of progressivism, while being bankrolled and directed by the very corporate interests the Left is supposed to oppose.

And this isn’t just coming from one corner of the Left. Even outlets like Evolve Politics and OpenDemocracy have done their digging.

The broader pattern of corruption becomes clear when examining external investigations. Evolve Politics documented how Greencastle Capital’s takeover transformed The London Economic from independent outlet to corporate mouthpiece. David Sefton’s extensive fossil fuel connections, including former chairmanship of Anglo African Oil & Gas and Aurora Natural Resources, reveal interests directly opposed to environmental justice that any genuine left movement would champion.

OpenDemocracy’s investigation proves even more damning, exposing The London Economic’s role in systematic reputation laundering for wealthy clients including Russian oligarchs and sanctioned businessmen. Their flattering coverage of BP’s Rosneft investments, published by anonymous “Guest Contributors,” represents corporate propaganda disguised as journalism, exactly what independent media should expose rather than enable.

The publication’s anonymous praise for Egyptian steel magnate Ahmed Ezz, convicted of money laundering and fined £2 billion, while omitting his criminal history exemplifies their approach. Similar articles appeared simultaneously across multiple websites, suggesting coordinated reputation management campaigns that transform journalism into public relations.

Their coverage of Israeli mining billionaire Dan Gertler, sanctioned for massive corruption in DR Congo, followed identical patterns: praise for “leading by example” while ignoring the corruption allegations that led to US sanctions. This isn’t journalism but reputation rehabilitation conducted through purchased editorial content.

Transparency International’s assessment cuts to the heart: parts of UK media have become “laundromats for dirty money and reputations.” The London Economic represents this phenomenon perfectly: progressive branding concealing corporate service, social justice rhetoric masking establishment interests.

David Sefton’s collaboration with Tory MP Damian Collins on the COVID “fact-checking service” Infotagion reveals additional concerning connections. Their joint business interests, including the mysteriously inactive Game Plan Management LLP, suggest relationships that compromise any pretence of editorial independence.

The London Economic is chaired by David Sefton, a former oil and gas exec who teamed up with the then Conservative MP Damian Collins at the start of the pandemic to set up a COVID “fact-checking service”, Infotagion.

Sefton is also a director of Greencastle TLE Ltd., which has majority owned the London Economic since 2020.

The London Economic covered Infotagion’s launch in 2020, saying it would help combat fake news. The article did not mention that Infotagion and the London Economic were linked through Sefton.

Collins and Sefton also appear to share another business interest: they are listed together in company documents for Game Plan Management LLP, which is not listed in the MP’s official register of interests.

Collins told openDemocracy he has never been involved with the London Economic – and that Infotagion’s posts were “based on accurate information at the time of posting”.

The former MP added: “With regards to Game Plan, that is inactive, has never been an active business, has no value, and I have never derived any benefit from it, which is why I haven’t included it on the register of interests.”

The broader implications extend beyond single publications to threaten the integrity of grassroots political movements. When corporate interests can purchase progressive credibility, when hedge funds can masquerade as independent media, when oil executives can present themselves as environmental champions, the entire ecosystem of democratic discourse faces corruption.

For Corbyn and Sultana’s movement, this represents existential threat disguised as support.

The London Economic’s EU rejoin advocacy could fracture working-class coalitions that form the movement’s foundation. Their corporate connections could discredit genuine grassroots activism through association. Their reputation laundering activities could contaminate any political formation they claim to represent.

The emerging movement faces enough genuine challenges without manufactured crises created by corporate impostors wearing progressive masks. This new party will endure immense pressure from every direction, from Starmer’s Labour machine seeking to crush potential rivals, to right-wing media orchestrating character assassination campaigns, to liberal establishment voices demanding ideological conformity.

If this party is to be born, let it be born and grow on its own authentic terms, not shaped by the agenda of hedge fund-backed publications masquerading as grassroots allies. The movement’s survival depends on distinguishing between genuine solidarity and manipulative interference from liberals and rejoiners who would steer it toward electoral suicide.

The London Economic’s deception serves as cautionary tale and teaching moment. Corporate interests possess sufficient resources to purchase progressive credibility, manipulate political discourse, and hijack movement identities for their own purposes. Recognition of these tactics represents the first step toward developing resistance.

The price of democratic authenticity is eternal vigilance against those who would purchase political legitimacy rather than earning it through honest advocacy for working-class interests.

The forest fire of corporate media manipulation burns brightly, consuming authentic political discourse while feeding on progressive rhetoric transformed into establishment propaganda. Sometimes words must indeed burn whole forests down, particularly when those forests consist of carefully cultivated deceptions designed to mislead genuine political movements.

The London Economic has revealed its true character through actions rather than rhetoric. The question facing the broader left is whether we possess sufficient wisdom to recognise wolves in sheep’s clothing before they devour the movements we seek to build. The answer will determine whether grassroots politics can survive corporate colonisation or whether all opposition will eventually serve establishment interests while wearing sheep’s clothing.

Let’s be absolutely clear: this isn’t left-wing media. It’s astroturfing. It’s manipulative. And it’s dangerous.

If The London Economic wants to back Rejoin, let them do it honestly, under their own name, not under Corbyn’s. If they want to represent venture capital, they should have the guts to put that on their masthead, not hide behind memes and “kind politics” branding.

Until then, they have no right to speak for the Left. No right to speak for “Your Party“. And no right to profit off the reputation of those who have bled for this movement.

Time to pull the curtain back.
Let the truth do the burning.

Update: Since publication of this article, Joe Connor has reached out to Labour Heartlands, clarifying that he no longer works for The London Economic.

He advised that his profile stating he was an editor at the publication was an oversight, explaining he has not worked for the media company since 2024.

His profile has since been updated to read “Former Editor at The London Economic.”

Further investigation reveals that there are two Left Bible pages. One with 112k followers, “The Left Bible” page now appears adminless, with a prominent statement declaring it has been hacked. The other with 14k followers, LEFTBible still active. However, a search through both pages’ history until recently demonstrates exactly the method we described, serving as an alternative source for The London Economic’s content, pushing their agenda through clickbait titles designed to manufacture emotional responses and engineer consent.

As we’ve previously reported, along with other independent left-wing platforms, The London Economic was taken over in 2020 by Sefton and Greencastle TLE. Since then, many have questioned its editorial direction and independence. Joe was an Editor till late 2024…

It’s possible that Joe Conor has now launched the “Our Party“ Facebook group in response to the groundswell of support for Zarah Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn’s Your Party. If that’s the case, we wish him well, but a little clarity wouldn’t go amiss. For those joining “Our Party” under the impression that it’s officially linked to Corbyn or Sultana, greater transparency would go a long way toward establishing trust and ensuring a clean break from the murky media tactics employed by outlets like The London Economic in recent years. It’s an easy fix, just add an admin assist welcome with a brief explanation for new members.

For those wishing to join the official Your Party, here’s the: LINK