US Campaigners Warn of Disinformation Tactics in UK Politics Inspired by Trump

US pro-democracy campaigners are sounding the alarm over the adoption of disinformation tactics in UK politics, drawing direct comparisons between former US President Donald Trump and Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK’s Reform party. Farage has recently proposed policies reminiscent of Trump’s, including sending prisoners abroad to countries like El Salvador, where the Trump administration previously deported individuals and suggested sending US citizens. Additionally, Farage has called for a significant police recruitment drive and an extensive prison-building program, while advocating for cuts to health and education spending. The parallels between Farage’s approach and Trump’s strategies have not gone unnoticed in the US, where campaigners have studied Trump’s methods extensively. They warn of a 'blizzard of lies'—a tactic involving a high volume of false or misleading statements that can overwhelm opponents and the public. This approach, they argue, has been a hallmark of Trump’s political style, making it difficult for critics to respond effectively. According to US campaigners, countering such disinformation has become increasingly challenging since Trump’s first term. Factors contributing to this difficulty include looser content moderation on social media platforms and a hesitance among some media outlets to confront falsehoods due to fear of intimidation or loss of public trust. For instance, The Washington Post, which documented over 30,000 lies or misleading statements from Trump during his presidency, faced a decline in subscribers and credibility after its owner, Jeff Bezos, reportedly blocked an editorial endorsement of Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. Campaigners suggest that traditional fact-checking may no longer suffice against such tactics. Instead, they propose a strategy of 'pre-buttal'—anticipating and addressing falsehoods before they gain traction—as a more effective means of combating disinformation. This warning comes as a lesson from the US experience, urging vigilance among the British public and media as similar strategies appear to take root in UK politics.