Overview
- Holden reports the effort operated through Labour Together and spun off groups such as Stop Funding Fake News and the Center for Countering Digital Hate that presented as neutral while coordinating advertiser pressure.
- SFFN hosted a public blocklist and published guidance for brands, with outreach that saw Ford UK review ad placements and UK government advertising move away from Breitbart, according to the documents cited.
- The operation is described as beginning against Labour’s left during internal factional fights, contributing to the collapse of The Canary, before expanding to conservative outlets including Breitbart.
- Labour Together failed to declare more than £730,000 in donations and was fined £14,250 in 2021, a confirmed breach highlighted in the coverage as context for the broader allegations.
- Morgan McSweeney now serves as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, which the reports say raises the stakes as right-leaning outlets amplify Holden’s findings.