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FOREIGN OFFICE Minister Sir Alan Duncan announced today that the department has launched a probe into a think tank that shared social media links of stories that sought to undermine Jeremy Corbyn.
The move follows the revelation that the Institute for Statecraft (IfS) which is registered as a charity in Scotland, received at least £2 million over the past two years from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for its Integrity Initiative (II) programme, which it set up three years ago.
Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Duncan said he wanted to find out “why on Earth” II shared the links.
He had previously responded to a parliamentary written question from Derby North Labour MP Chris Williamson confirming that the programme received £296,500 in FCO funding in 2017-18 and that the funding is set to rise to £1,961,000 this financial year.
The think tank’s programme, which describes itself as “non-partisan,” with the aim of “tackling disinformation in Europe” and “addressing the activities of the Russian state,” shared articles on Twitter attacking the Labour leader and his team.
Scottish newspaper the Sunday Mail dug up II tweets linking to articles that say Mr Corbyn was a “useful idiot” who “helped the Kremlin cause,” as well as one saying his communications chief Seumas Milne had worked “with the Kremlin agenda.”
The Star has seen a report by the Working Group on Syria, Propaganda & Media published today which says the IfS programme involves journalists and “specialists in military intelligence” being “closely involved” in the global anti-Russia strategic communication operations.
The programme involves “covert manipulation of the public sphere, including campaigns to smear and suppress dissenters and block their appointment to posts,” it adds.