Political trolls target a Congleton social media group

By Tom Avery

12th May 2020 | Local News

A Congleton based social media group has been the subject of political trolling from a group of activists who support Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Ruth Finch, who is from Brighton, posted in a Priti Patel Supporters Group: "If you back Boris, please do me a favour, go to the Congleton News and Views and post something pro-Boris.

"They're allowing anti-Boris posts, but anyone who supports him gets blocked."

Ms Finch also created a replica Congleton News and Views Facebook group using the Congleton News and Views cover photo, which she altered using Boris Johnson's face to replace Cong Bear.

However, unlike Congleton's group, which at the time of publication had 5,888 members, Ms Finch's group which was created on 30th March had just seven members.

Sharon Neild, who runs Congleton News and Views, told Nub News: "A political activist has asked fellow political activists to join our little group just to cause trouble.

"All political persuasions are welcomed here on this group, the left, the right and all in between, but we find it very strange that people who don't live in the area would go to these lengths.

"We encourage healthy debate and we know everyone isn't going to get along all the time, but we don't condone the actions and we are in no way connected to the group that she has set up using our groups name and one of our cover photos; which she has since manipulated."

Mrs Neild told Nub News that one of Ms Finch's followers opted to post negative comments in the original Congleton News and Views group on VE Day, which she found "very disrespectful".

Richard Walton, Chair of Congleton Town Labour Party, told Nub News: "It's really unfortunate that any group of people would advocate infiltrating a non-political community group.

"Congleton News and Views is completely neutral, the futile comments are completely unnecessary and it doesn't reflect well on the Conservative Party at these difficult times when we at Labour are working collaboratively."

     

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