Spike in ‘globalist plot’ slur online attacks directed at PM Sunak
New research shows how the prime minister, a former banker, has been targeted in tweets using often dog-whistle term drawing on antisemitic conspiracy theories
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Social media attacks on Rishi Sunak alleging the former banker is part of a “globalist plot” have soared since he became prime minister, research has shown.
Sunak was mentioned in 16,935 tweets containing the term “globalist” last week, according to research carried out by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a disinformation watchdog.
The “globalist” conspiracy is often a dog-whistle term of abuse used by the far right, antisemites and anti-vaccine extremists.
The research emerged as Jewish News overheard a conversation outside a pub in Whitehall, central London, it which two individuals discussed the “real reason” Liz Truss was “brought down” with one person stressing the alleged influence of the “IMF and the Rothschilds.”
Both individuals later claimed to have jobs in Westminster.
One said:”If you get me started on conspiracy theories, we will be here all night.”
Meanwhile, the new research showed that tweets linking Sunak to the false notion of a globalist conspiracy were viewed more than 21.3m times amid soaring online abuse of Britain’s first prime minister of colour.
Last month, after Grant Shapps was briefly made home secretary, the Jewish MP was repeatedly linked to claims he was part of a globalist plot.
Sunak, a British Asian who had worked for banks including Goldman Sachs, is now facing similar claims of being in the pockets of a global financial elite.
“Rishi Sunak’s elevation to prime minister has become the latest flashpoint that antisemitic conspiracy theorists use to promote their hate-filled agenda by taking advantage of trending topics on social media to maximise visibility,”Imran Ahmed, the CCDH chief executive told the Guardian.
The CCDH’s research, which used the Twitter analytics tool Brandwatch.
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