Facebook no-deal ads secretly run by Lynton Crosby firm
Documents reveal that Tory election guru's staff oversaw most 'grassroots' campaigns

A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
A string of influential Facebook ad campaigns that appear to be separate grassroots movements for a no-deal Brexit are secretly being overseen by employees of Sir Lynton Crosby, the Tory election guru, The Guardian has revealed.
Although the groups, including Mainstream Network and Britain’s Future, seem to be separate entities run independently by members of the public, they share an administrator who works for Crosby’s CTF Partners.
They have splashed as much as £1m promoting sophisticated targeted adverts to add pressure on MPs to vote for a hard Brexit. Their collective expenditure on Facebook campaigning exceeds the amount spent in the last six months by all the UK’s major political parties and the government combined.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The funds have been spent on thousands of different targeted Facebook ads to urge members of the public to write to their local MPs and call for the toughest possible exit from the EU. The intended effect was to conjure an impression of organic public opposition to Theresa May’s deal.
The Guardian says documents reveal that almost all the major pro-Brexit Facebook “grassroots” advertising campaigns share the same page admins or promoters, drawn from staff from CTF Partners and the political director of Boris Johnson’s campaigns to be mayor of London.
There is a further link between the company and Johnson: the register of MPs’ interests shows that CTF Partners gave the former foreign secretary an interest-free loan of £23,000 this year.
The news will heap more pressure on Facebook. Transparency campaigners have already accused the social media giant of taking “dark money” for adverts that are pushing for a no-deal Brexit without disclosing who has paid for them.
The House of Commons digital, culture, media and sport select committee, which investigates online disinformation, has repeatedly called for Facebook to reveal the identities of those who were funding Mainstream Network.
Last month, the committee’s chairman, Damian Collins, said: “I believe there is a strong public interest in understanding who is behind the Mainstream Network, and that this information should be published.”
Lynton Crosby helped run the last four Conservative general election campaigns, helping to secure an unexpected majority government for the party in 2015.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
Knotted
Cartoons
By The Week Staff Published
-
Is it time the world re-evaluated the rules on migration?
Today's Big Question Home Secretary Suella Braverman questions whether 1951 UN Refugee Convention is 'fit for our modern age'
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Liberal Democrat housing drama
Why Everyone's Talking About Ed Davey suffered a bruising defeat on the conference floor leading some to question his leadership
By Rebekah Evans Published
-
Is it time the world re-evaluated the rules on migration?
Today's Big Question Home Secretary Suella Braverman questions whether 1951 UN Refugee Convention is 'fit for our modern age'
By The Week Staff Published
-
Rishi Sunak's tree code: what is the PM's election strategy?
Today's Big Question Conservative leader lining up major policy announcements in bid to rebrand as 'change' candidate
By Elliott Goat Published
-
Will Rishi Sunak's green wedge issue win over the public?
Today's Big Question The PM draws dividing line with Labour on net zero ahead of the next general election
By Sorcha Bradley Published
-
Industry backlash as Sunak set to water down green pledges
Speed Read Automotive and energy bosses look for clarity after PM backs away from UK net zero goal
By Arion McNicoll Published
-
October by-elections: what's at stake for Labour, Lib Dems and Tories
Parties will contest two former safe Tory seats on 19 October, putting pressure on Rishi Sunak
By Harriet Marsden Published
-
Would Keir Starmer get a better Brexit deal?
Today's big question Labour leader must overcome fact that European capitals 'consider Brexit yesterday's problem'
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
Jobs for the boys: does the UK need a minister for men?
Conservative MP calls for dedicated cabinet role to combat 'crisis' in men's mental health and education
By Harriet Marsden Published
-
Was Ben Wallace snubbed for top Nato job?
Today's Big Question EU chiefs and Joe Biden blamed as UK defence secretary gives up on becoming alliance’s next secretary-general
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published