Facebook ‘attack ads’ target Tory defectors

CONSERVATIVES are testing targeted social media “attack ads” against defectors before a possible election.

Facebook’s political advertising archive showed that the party launched a four-day blitz against Lib Dem defector Sarah Wollaston aimed at her Totnes constituents.

Analysts told The Telegraph the flurry of ads could hint at what other Tory defectors and deselected rebels could face in a general election.

The Conservative Party’s Facebook adverts also showed a concerted effort to use online surveys and petitions to collect data that could be used to help recruit campaign volunteers.

Analysis by The Telegraph showed that since Boris Johnson became Prime Minister, the party has spent small amounts of money deploying identical targeted ads in different areas.

Rob Blackie, a political social media strategist who has worked with organisations such as the UN, said this was probably to see how messages played in different parts of the country before a national campaign. “I would definitely say they are testing,” he added.

However, in the latter weeks of August, the Conservative Facebook page ran a series of attack ads against Dr Wollaston, who defected from the party to join The Independent Group in March and now sits as a Lib Dem.

The adverts showed the MP alongside Jeremy Corbyn, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon and Jo Swinson, the Lib Dem leader, saying: “Should Sarah Wollaston be working with these politicians to stop Brexit?”

Mr Blackie said the simple emotive messaging was a hallmark of the Vote Leave campaign – which was run by Dominic Cummings, now a senior adviser to Mr Johnson – and may be a foretaste of the social media onslaught other defectors and rebels could face.