The Ministry of Truth concerns itself with with lies: Tories set up fake Labour manifesto website

The Tories have launched a fake Labour manifesto website in another bid to confuse and mislead voters ahead of the general election.

A website with the web address “labourmanifesto.co.uk” was launched moments before the party’s manifesto launch in Birmingham.

The governing party paid Google to promote the website labourmanifesto.co.uk towards the top of its results for people searching for the opposition plan.

It is the latest underhand tactic to have been employed by the Tories, who were earlier this week accused of running an authoritarian-style disinformation campaign to confuse voters about opposition plans. It is pure Orwellian echoing the the pages of Orwell’s 1984.

The website states: “All you need to know about Labour’s manifesto is that Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister means higher taxes for you and your family, the chaos of two more referendums and more indecision and delay on Brexit.”

It carries a series of attacks on Labour’s policies, displaying excerpts from reporting by media outlets showing the party in a negative light. Though it does state on the homepage that it is “a website by the Conservative party”, it still attracted strong criticism on social media.

The website states at the bottom of the homepage that it is “promoted by Alan Mabbutt on behalf of the Conservative Party”. Mabbutt is on the board of the Conservative party, serving as a senior professional member of staff.

George Orwell’s 1984 wasn’t a Government Instruction Manual, it was a ‘Dire Warning’ to us all, one that seems to manifest itself in this election of 2019.

The Ministry of Peace concerns itself with war, the Ministry of Truth with lies, the Ministry of Love with torture and the Ministry of Plenty with starvation. These contradictions are not accidental, nor do they result from ordinary hypocrisy; they are deliberate exercises in DOUBLETHINK.
George Orwell, 1984 (1949).

 

George Orwell’s 1984 is an internationally acclaimed dystopian best seller that some say depicts a prophetic view and a chilling warning to us all. Between the pages of ’1984 are the dire consequences for man, when propaganda is at its height; for when a government rules with an ironclad fist. War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength. The three phrases printed within the first few pages of chapter one echo across today’s current state of chaos.

This Tory government needs to take a long hard look at itself and ask the hard questions reflecting on how its campaign in disinformation will affect democracy overhaul. It should look at the tenuous relationship and trust between the people, politicians and government. These tactics will only help create the foundations of poor government but most of all a poor democracy.

The real Labour manifesto, which includes a windfall tax on oil companies to fund an overhaul of the economy, a vow to build 100,000 council homes a year, and the promise of a Final Say referendum and extra cash for the NHS, can be found here.

Alternatively read Labour Heartlands take on the Labour manifesto here:

Labour announces ‘manifesto of hope’