Anger as Tory press HQ changes its Twitter name to ‘FactCheckUK’ during debate leading for calls for them to be kicked off the social media site
- The Tory Press office this evening changed their Twitter handle to ‘FactCheckUK’
- They used the new handle during tonight’s debate with Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn
- Full Fact slammed the move claiming it was ‘inappropriate and misleading’
- The press office reverted to their old name at the end of tonight’s ITV debate
The Tory party press office has been blasted over its decision to re brand its Twitter account to FactCheckUK to coincide with tonight’s PM election debate.
Shortly before Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn took to the stage, the @CC changed its handle to attack the Labour leader during the debate.
However, once they vacated their original name, another Twitter users appropriated it. This was quickly followed by former Labour spin doctor Alaistair Campbell, who changed his own Twitter handle to ‘Boris Johnson’, and immediately messaged ‘I won’t get Brexit done #FactCheck’.
The Conservative Party press office changed their Twitter handle to FactCheckUK ahead of tonight’s debate between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn
The move was described as ‘inappropriate and misleading’ by fact-checking organisation Full Fact
Former Labour Party spin doctor Alastair Campbell changed his name to Boris Johnson following the Tory Party’s move and tweeted that he was ‘lying’ about the NHS
The Tory Party stunt was widely criticised by fact-checking organisation Full Fact.
In a tweet, the organisation said: ‘It is inappropriate and misleading for the Conservative press office to rename their twitter account “factcheckUK” during this debate.
‘Please do not mistake it for an independent fact checking service such as @FullFact, @FactCheck or @FactCheckNI.’
The @CCHQpress account is verified by Twitter, displaying a blue tick which is intended to denote that a user is genuine.
Unsurprisingly, the FactCheckUK account found that Boris Johnson ‘won’ the debate with Mr Corbyn.
The Liberal Democrat press office posted an image suggesting they were reporting the account to Twitter for ‘pretending to be me or someone else’.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, pictured, was debating tonight with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on ITV in the first head-to-head meeting of the 2019 General Election
Unsurprisingly, the FactCheckUK verdict was Boris Johnson was the ‘clear winner’
Jeremy Corbyn, pictured, faced Boris Johnson tonight in the head-to-head debate on ITV
They tweeted: ‘And people wonder why trust in politics has been eroded @CCHQPress’.
Labour’s David Lammy tweeted: ‘The Conservative Party press office @CCHQPress rebranding themselves as “FactCheckUK” shows what disdain this party and this government has for the truth.
‘The Electoral Commission must investigate and punish this blatant attempt to decieve the public.’
Meanwhile, some other Twitter users also changed their display names to factcheckUK and posted critical comments about Mr Johnson.
Others changed their display name CCHQ Press Office, while Tony Blair’s former spokesperson Alastair Campbell changed his display name to Boris Johnson and tweeted: “I won’t get Brexit done £FactCheck”
The Conservative Party has been contacted for comment.
MailOnline has also contacted Twitter for a comment.