Reform UK Burnley Page Suspended By Facebook

What Is Happening?

On Monday 14th April, less than 3 weeks before the elections on 1st May, Facebook have interfered in Burnley and Padiham politics, by suspending the ‘Reform UK – Burnley’ Facebook page.

Following an appeal, the page was then completely removed by Facebook.

This was not for anything the page posted. The reason given for the suspension was for ‘impersonation’, citing examples of their policy being ‘creating a page that looks like it belongs to a brand or business’, despite being the official Burnley branch page and never having been asked for authentication of this by Facebook.

The other parties haven’t had their local pages suspended during the campaign for this reason. Based on the content of the page, no unbiased observer would logically conclude that the Reform UK – Burnley page isn’t what it purports to be.

Given the short space of time between now and the local elections, it seems to be yet another case of potential election subversion by a social media company.

Commentary

Under Tory and Labour leadership, the UK has seen a culture develop of political censorship, people being dragged through the courts and even locked up for what they post online.

I would strongly support a new law which ensured that the pages of all political parties, local branches of political parties and their candidates were immune from any form of tampering by social media companies, unless they have committed a crime and the police request removal of post action by the social media companies.

I would also support laws to return our culture to one where people weren’t censored, or at risk of being put in prison, for what they post online.

There have been many reports of a two-tier justice system in this respect, with posts from certain political groups and causes being given a relatively free pass, while people and posts from the ‘right wing’ of politics in Britain are censored and legally pursued by the authorities.

It shouldn’t be up to Facebook’s moderators to decide which political parties and candidates can be seen online during an election campaign, it should be up to voters to judge what is posted, the parties and candidates for themselves.

Politicians Blocking Critics

It’s been reported to me by many parties that MP’s, Councillors and local parties have engaged in blocking their critics, in what can only be perceived as apparent attempts to silence any negative PR, voices and create an echo chamber online.

I have recently experienced this myself, after volunteering to stand for Reform and announcing my candidacy last month.

Burnley’s suspended Labour MP, Oliver Ryan, followed me on Instagram and used to view my Instagram stories regularly, having no notion of my political affiliation or views. When I announced I am a candidate for Reform UK, he blocked me. When I commented on his Facebook post asking him about it, he removed the comment.

Ironically, Mr Ryan had the whip removed due to alleged inappropriate behaviour on WhatsApp.

My Conservative opponent on 1st May, the incumbent County Councillor Alan Hosker, also blocked me, in response to a post alerting voters to his 56% absence rate from County Council meetings he was expected at.

People have reported the same thing to me regarding these two individuals, as well as the same being reported about Conservative and Labour politicians in other areas.

Personally I will not block any voters from voicing their views on my page, or remove their comments. I may not agree with what people say, but I will always defend their right to say it. You have a right to say what you want about what I do and to see what others say.