July 1, 2024
2 mins read

Dowden warns of Russian interference in upcoming polls

Labour has enjoyed poll leads of more than 20 points throughout the campaign, but Sunak insisted on Sunday that he will still be Prime Minister come Friday morning…reports Asian Lite News

The deputy prime minister warned that the country’s upcoming general election faces threats from hostile actors such as Russia seeking to influence the UK’s democratic process.

The country will go to the polls on Thursday, in an election expected to oust the governing right-wing Conservatives and put the opposition Labour party in power.

His comments came after the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that it had uncovered five Facebook pages spreading the same pro-Kremlin talking points.

Some of them encouraged support for the hard-right Reform UK party led by Brexiteer Nigel Farage — a big challenger to the ruling Conservatives in Thursday’s vote.

“There is a threat in all elections, and indeed we see it in this election from hostile state actors seeking to influence the outcome of the election campaign,” Oliver Dowden told Sky News.

“Russia is a prime example of this, and this is a classic example from the Russian playbook,” he added, noting however that the examples were “relatively typical, low-level stuff”.

Farage — an admirer of former US president Donald Trump — dismissed claims that Russian bots might interfere in the election as “cobblers”, using a British slang term for nonsense.

He has been criticised in the campaign for saying that the West provoked Russia’s invasion of its neighbour Ukraine.

His anti-immigration party is tipped by pollsters to contribute to a landslide win by the centre left opposition Labour party by taking votes away from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Tories.

Labour has enjoyed poll leads of more than 20 points throughout the campaign, but Sunak insisted on Sunday that he will still be Prime Minister come Friday morning.

“I’m fighting very hard and I think people are waking up to the real danger of what a Labour government means,” he told the BBC.

Labour, led by Keir Starmer, received another boost Sunday when the influential right-of-centre newspaper the Sunday Times endorsed his party. Music sensation Elton John also announced he was backing Labour.

ALSO READ-Dowden sets £30bn Saudi-UK 2030 bilateral trade goal

Previous Story

Labour aims for closer EU ties without reopening Brexit wounds

Next Story

Reform UK drops three candidates over racism row

Latest from -Top News

India Eyes Global No. 3 Spot, Says Modi

The Prime Minister stated that people of India have resolved to make India a Developed Nation by 2047, when “we celebrate 100 years of Independence”….reports Asian Lite News Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Bangladesh’s Dark Side Unveiled in Geneva

Organised by diaspora activists, the exhibit exposed rising rights abuses in Bangladesh post-Hasina…reports Asian Lite News In a bid to spotlight the deteriorating human rights situation and rising persecution of minorities in

India Outpaces Peers in Morgan Stanley Outlook

Global investment firm reaffirms India’s status as top-performing economy in latest growth outlook…reports Asian Lite News India is set to retain its position as the fastest-growing economy among nations tracked by Morgan

Debt deals, austerity still rule Colombo

IMF approves $350 million t ranche as island nation sees early signs of recovery, but challenges persist amid ongoing reforms and rising public discontent….reports Asian Lite News The International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Putin sanctions Biden

Russia has imposed personal sanctions against US President Joe Biden

Russia, China team up to develop high-tech weapons

2060 when both countries sh utin added that Russia is