Nigel Farage Opposes New Russia Misinformation Unit

Nigel Farage has become the only senior political figure to condemn the government’s plans to set up a new unit to tackle Russian misinformation.

The Reform UK leader claimed it was “targeted directly” at his party and would stifle free speech.

Prime minister Andy Burnham announced the move in his first speech to the UN General Assembly.

The National Centre for Information Defence will tackle online lies and deepfakes damaging British interests, the PM said.

Burnham said the rise of artificial intelligence means the problem is only set to get worse unless it is tackled urgently.

“We’re talking about an insidious campaign that reaches into people’s homes and twists what they feel about their own country and community – creating a narrative of decline, stoking division and sowing despair,” he said.

The plan has been welcomed by MPs from all parties – except Reform.

Labour MP Emily Thornberry, chair of the foreign affairs select committee, said: “For too long, the approach of successive governments to disinformation has been disjointed and without organisation, allowing states like Russia to amplify lies about this country, to sow division and stoke tensions.”

She said the new unit was “an opportunity to finally take on this very serious threat”.

Tory MP John Whittingdale, who is also on the foreign affairs committee, said: “It is very welcome that the prime minister has now shared our assessment that Russia is conducting information warfare against the West and is taking action.”

Lib Dem MP Richard Foord said: “We look forward to helping ensure that this new centre is a success. We hope it demonstrates a new and robust response from the UK to hostile state information warfare.”

But Farage broke the political consensus by attacking the plan.

He said: “This will be like George Orwell’s Ministry of Information. This will be used to clamp down on free speech.

“And the one lesson I’m learning, as time goes on, whether it’s funding of parties, whether it’s cancelling elections, is never, ever trust this authoritarian government.”

Defence secretary Wes Streeting insisted the new unit would not be used “for “policing domestic political dissent”.

He said: “One of the great things about Britain, and one of the things that I have a responsibility to defend, is the freedom and democracy that we all enjoy.

“And that includes the freedom to disagree, the freedom for people to challenge their government, to challenge government policy, to criticise robustly what we are doing and then to have the opportunity to choose a different government.”

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