By posting anti-Corbyn tweets this ‘black ops’ organisation has just shot itself in the foot

The UK-based Integrity Initiative specialises in covert operations aimed at countering Russian propaganda. But it also conducts ‘black ops’ in countries across Europe and beyond. It’s largely funded by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and listed as a project of the little known Institute for Statecraft, a registered charity.
But Integrity has also been aiming its propaganda at UK targets; in particular Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and his associates. And now, an inquiry into the work of Integrity has been called.
Forewarned
The Canary first ran a story on Statecraft and Integrity on 29 November 2018, highlighting some of their funding arrangements. We explained how Integrity’s handbook, published by Anonymous hacktivists and seen by The Canary, recommends possible ‘educational events’ by other organisations, including by BuzzFeed and Bellingcat. It also lists Bellingcat as a possible research partner.
We also highlighted the work of its ‘clusters’, which are basically covert propaganda operations. The document that lists the UK cluster, seen by The Canary, includes named individuals who hold hedge-fund interests or represent thinktanks such as DEMOS, RUSI, the Henry Jackson Society, and Chatham House. It also names people who represent the Ministry of Defence and the FCO, Orbis – the private intelligence agency headed by ‘Trump dossier’ author Christopher Steele, a smattering of journalists, and Labour MP Ben Bradshaw.
Funding
Details of Integrity’s FCO funding appear in a document, sourced by Anonymous, with the metadata ‘FCO Budget’. It shows that, for the year 2017/18, a total of £480,635 was made available. Confirmation of FCO funding also comes via an Integrity statement. And according to another document sourced by Anonymous, the US State Department provided £250,000 to Integrity, and Facebook is a co-funder.
But that’s not all. On 27 November 2018, FCO minister Alan Duncan confirmed in answer to a question:
In financial year 2017/18, the FCO funded the Institute for Statecraft’s Integrity Initiative £296,500. This financial year, the FCO is funding a further £1,961,000. Both have been funded through grant agreements.
Read on...
Support us and go ad-free
Anti-Labour smears
The work of Integrity has come under further scrutiny after it was found to have posted a series of tweets critical of Labour, in particular of Jeremy Corbyn and Seumas Milne, Labour’s strategy and communications chief.
If this is true this is an outrageous abuse of government powers and resources. We need an urgent statement from the government and an independent inquiry. https://t.co/TDb2n64myf
— John McDonnell MP (@johnmcdonnellMP) December 9, 2018
Some of the tweets, often referencing articles published by other outlets, have been deleted by Integrity, but some of those have been recovered as screenshots:
Another document sourced by Anonymous provides details of how the FCO money should be spent – namely, for the Russian Language Strategic Communications Programme. But there is nothing in that document that provides for propaganda aimed at Britain’s Labour Party.
Rural hideaway
Until recently, Statecraft remained a little known entity. Indeed, its registered offices are hidden away at a very remote site in rural Scotland. Here is an aerial view:
Running the show
Statecraft boasts some interesting directors, invariably with a military or related background. For example, Daniel Lafayeedney was a fellow with the Advanced Research and Assessment Group at the Defence Academy of the UK. And Chris Donnelly was a special adviser to the secretary general of NATO (and an adviser to Margaret Thatcher). Both are listed as directors of the Council on Foreign Relations, whose registered offices are listed at the same address as Statecraft.
Contravention?
In the wake of the latest revelations about Integrity and Statecraft, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry stated:
It is one of the cardinal rules of British public life that official resources should not be used for party political purposes… why did the Foreign Office allow public money to be spent on attempting to discredit Her Majesty’s Opposition? Did they know this was happening? If not, why not? And if they did, how on earth can they justify it?
Statecraft responded:
The IfS started the Integrity Initiative to highlight disinformation and malign influence across Europe.
We are non-partisan and highlight relevant stories whoever they feature.
But the stated object of Statecraft (which regards Integrity as one of its projects) does not include posting critical comments or smears about the Labour Party. So perhaps the Scottish Charities Regulator should take a good look into Statecraft’s and Integrity’s alleged ‘charitable’ works.
Meanwhile,
This Tory government has funded an organisation which has meddled in the domestic politics of our European neighbours while attacking @jeremycorbyn.
That’s why I’m calling for an inquiry into @InitIntegrity – democracies don’t behave like this. pic.twitter.com/U4fgjPQLSa
— Chris Williamson MP #GTTO (@DerbyChrisW) December 11, 2018
Indeed, when taxpayers’ money is used to fund a programme that not only targets the internal politics of allies but also the leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition, then only a full-blown inquiry will suffice.
Featured image via ITV News/ YouTube
We need your help to keep speaking the truth
Every story that you have come to us with; each injustice you have asked us to investigate; every campaign we have fought; each of your unheard voices we amplified; we do this for you. We are making a difference on your behalf.
Our fight is your fight. You’ve supported our collective struggle every time you gave us a like; and every time you shared our work across social media. Now we need you to support us with a monthly donation.
We have published nearly 2,000 articles and over 50 films in 2021. And we want to do this and more in 2022 but we don’t have enough money to go on at this pace. So, if you value our work and want us to continue then please join us and be part of The Canary family.
In return, you get:
* Advert free reading experience
* Quarterly group video call with the Editor-in-Chief
* Behind the scenes monthly e-newsletter
* 20% discount in our shop
Almost all of our spending goes to the people who make The Canary’s content. So your contribution directly supports our writers and enables us to continue to do what we do: speaking truth, powered by you. We have weathered many attempts to shut us down and silence our vital opposition to an increasingly fascist government and right-wing mainstream media.
With your help we can continue:
* Holding political and state power to account
* Advocating for the people the system marginalises
* Being a media outlet that upholds the highest standards
* Campaigning on the issues others won’t
* Putting your lives central to everything we do
We are a drop of truth in an ocean of deceit. But we can’t do this without your support. So please, can you help us continue the fight?
-
Show Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to leave a comment.Join the conversationPlease read our comment moderation policy here.
And still very little MSM coverage – surely this should be front-page news?
But I suppose berating Corbyn for not calling a no-confidence vote at a time it would surely lose is much more important – just ask the Blairites! Remember the last time the Government were in so much trouble over Brexit, where instead of making the most of the Tories’ monumental fuck-up, the Blairites went for a #chickencoup instead?! And the same tactic swings into action any time Labour looks like being ahead in the polls – time and again we’ve seen anti-Corbyn MP’s happy to say anything, do anything, in a deliberate attempt to sabotage their own Party’s chances, simply because of they can’t deal with the prospect of seeing a left-wing Leader in Number 10 – and it’s an utter disgrace!