New Conservative digital director wanted ‘urgently’

The Conservative Party is hiring a digital director following a disastrous snap election in which it lost its House of Commons majority after being outfought on social media by Labour.

The appointment comes after an internal review of the election campaign by former cabinet minister Sir Eric Pickles said the Tories should “urgently upscale” their digital department.

Press Association analysis after the 8 June poll showed Labour saw a surge in Facebook and Twitter followers during the campaign, and Jer- emy Corbyn’s social media pages received 2.8 million shares compared to Theresa May’s 130,000.

Labour’s efforts were in part driven by the youthful Corbyn-backing Momentum grassroots movement which some Tories have called for the party to mimic.

The Conservatives’ hiring of a digital director also comes after the party was mocked by some Twitter users for its “behind-thescenes” Instagram posts from this week’s conference in Manchester.

The job advertisement on the Tory website makes no mention of salary.