Concerns over potential Russian interference in the upcoming general elections scheduled for July 4 have been raised by British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden.
This warning came after an Australian TV channel revealed coordinated activities on Facebook.
In an interview with Sky News, Dowden mentioned that there is a threat in every election, highlighting that hostile actors are seeking to influence the outcome of the current vote.
He cited Russia as an example of such interference, referring to the detected low-level operation.
The Australian broadcaster ABC identified five coordinated Facebook pages, which collectively had 190,000 followers.
These pages were found to criticize various British parties, including both Labour and Conservatives, while occasionally showing support for the anti-immigration Reform Party led by Nigel Farage. Experts interviewed by ABC suggested Russian involvement in these pages.
Dowden clarified that he was not suggesting any direct collusion between Russia and Farage but wanted to warn about the threat of Russian state interference in the elections.
He also criticized Farage’s recent statements, which blamed the West for the war in Ukraine.
Nigel Farage responded to these concerns on Sky News, dismissing the idea of a “Russian hoax.”
He referred to recent racist insults made by a party activist against Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as a trap, a deliberate attempt to derail their campaign from start to finish.
The Labour Party, currently leading in the polls, has received support from singer Elton John and the conservative Sunday Times, which stated that it is time for Labour to restore efficiency to the government.
The newspaper added that there comes a time when change is the only viable option.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in a piece for the Sunday Telegraph, warned that the UK would suffer irreparable damage if Labour wins, emphasizing that there are only four days left to save the country.
Speaking on BBC, Sunak urged people not to place their retirement, finances, borders, and security in the hands of a Labour government.
