• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Friday, May 16, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

As a fresh crisis unfolds, the Conservative attempt at a grassroots ‘Momentum’ campaign descends into utter chaos [IMAGES]

Kerry-Anne Mendoza by Kerry-Anne Mendoza
19 June 2022
in UK
Reading Time: 3 mins read
169 3
A A
0
Home UK
319
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

CORRECTION: This article was updated at 9.05am on 5 June 2019 to remove an allegation about the possible source of the leaks after the person named denied the claim.

It’s been a bizarre week for the new group which hoped to become the Tory Momentum. Within days, the details of a WhatsApp chat among members revealed conversations about ‘gassing chavs’ and “shooting peasants”. And while the group has attempted to distance itself from the WhatsApp chat, it has been caught in a lie.

What is Activate?

Activate is a right-wing attempt at a Momentum-style campaign. It was sold as an independent grassroots campaign for young right-wingers. But the organisation’s National Chairman is Gary Markwell, a Tory councillor who has worked as a “Campaign Manager for the Conservative Party over the last ten years”. And the Twitter account of Membership Director Fizarn Adris revealed a hostile attitude to poor and vulnerable people.

Fizarn Adris on the Grenfell Tower fire
Fizarn Adris on unemployment
Fizarn Adris on Labour MP Diane Abbott

Then came the leak of an Activate WhatsApp chat. During the conversation, members argued in favour of ‘gassing chavs’ and “shooting peasants”:

Young Tories Joke About ‘Gassing Chavs’ in Activate WhatsApp Group https://t.co/7qRRv5OWrB

— Guido Fawkes (@GuidoFawkes) August 30, 2017

Chaos

The WhatsApp leak triggered a meltdown within the organisation. When East Midlands representative Sam Ancliff appeared [from 43:40] on BBC Radio Five Live on 31 August, he claimed that no one participating in the WhatsApp chat was a member of Activate. A statement, which appeared in a pop-up on the Activate homepage on 31 August, said:

The ‘Whatsapp’ [sic] posts that are being connected to Activate by the media did not originate from Activate or any of our members

Activate does not tolerate those views and would withdraw the membership of any member caught purporting [sic] such ignorant nonsense.

This is untrue. Adris was in that WhatsApp chat, and remains with the organisation. Internal messages seen by The Canary show Adris discussing the leak and other matters with Markwell.

But they were not done yet. Because that same day, Activate’s official Twitter account issued a bizarre misspelt meme. And although the group deleted the tweet, claiming it was the subject of a hacking attempt, it was too late.

https://twitter.com/ActivateBritain/status/903272243291095040

https://twitter.com/MattTurner4L/status/903298811644215299

To be honest, if we had tweeted this, we'd be crying "Hack" too…. #Meme #Retweet pic.twitter.com/lgcJHL2mCT

— EL4C #WeAreCollective (@EL4JC) August 31, 2017

Hack or no hack, the infighting and confusion have made the group a public laughing stock, even before the official launch.

Such was the chaos that a rival group set up its own Twitter account called Our Conviction, claiming to be the authentic voice of the young right. But its muddled statement triggered open season on social media.

Please read our statement below: pic.twitter.com/Ney9wEmZVJ

— Our Conviction (@Our_Conviction) August 31, 2017

Insiders have approached The Canary with news that the group is now desperate to crack down on the internal leaks.

An embarrassment of riches

In a few short days, Activate has provided an embarrassment of riches to the left; demonstrating the worst attributes of the right, at full volume. And as the group self-combusts, it is serving as a better advert for the left than Momentum could ever have hoped.

Get Involved!

– You can find out more about Momentum here.

– You can find out more about Activate here.

Featured image via Twitter

Share128Tweet80
Previous Post

There are fewer than 800 spaces left in prisons but the government is ‘publicly ignoring the problem’

Next Post

CanaryPod 1 September 2017 – planes, buses, and UN decisions

Next Post
CanaryPod

CanaryPod 1 September 2017 - planes, buses, and UN decisions

DPAC Cameron Court Oxfordshire Council

David Cameron's former Tory council has just been given a free pass to ignore the law, and the UN

NHS tory cuts

New report reveals 'eye-watering' NHS overspend by £3bn more than the government said. But the Tories deny it.

MDMA

Therapists in the near future could be giving clients MDMA and psychedelics

People are sick of Britain First visiting Maidstone. But they’ve got a cunning plan that might just work

People are sick of Britain First visiting Maidstone. But they've got a cunning plan that might just work

Trump has just sparked another major national security row
Analysis

Trump just sparked another major national security row – not that he cares

by Steve Topple
15 May 2025
The far-right's latest attack on Jeremy Corbyn is its most preposterous yet - with Lee Anderson leading the charge
Analysis

The far-right’s latest attack on Jeremy Corbyn is its most preposterous yet

by James Wright
15 May 2025
Starmer Rwanda deportation plan
Analysis

Just when you thought Starmer couldn’t stoop any lower – he does this

by Ed Sykes
15 May 2025
Jewish anti-Zionists IJAN respond to police ban on protest against Israeli ambassador
Analysis

Jewish anti-Zionists IJAN respond to police ban on protest against Israeli ambassador

by Ed Sykes
15 May 2025
Social Media Activism: How Grassroots Movements Are Gaining Power Online
Lifestyle

Social Media Activism: How Grassroots Movements Are Gaining Power Online

by Nathan Spears
15 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

Trump has just sparked another major national security row
Analysis
Steve Topple

Trump just sparked another major national security row – not that he cares

The far-right's latest attack on Jeremy Corbyn is its most preposterous yet - with Lee Anderson leading the charge
Analysis
James Wright

The far-right’s latest attack on Jeremy Corbyn is its most preposterous yet

Starmer Rwanda deportation plan
Analysis
Ed Sykes

Just when you thought Starmer couldn’t stoop any lower – he does this

Jewish anti-Zionists IJAN respond to police ban on protest against Israeli ambassador
Analysis
Ed Sykes

Jewish anti-Zionists IJAN respond to police ban on protest against Israeli ambassador

ADVERTISEMENT
Lifestyle
Nathan Spears

Social Media Activism: How Grassroots Movements Are Gaining Power Online

Travel
Nathan Spears

Best Destinations In Spain For A Couples Holiday

Travel
Nathan Spears

Surviving Long Layovers: A Frequent Traveller’s Guide