What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Labour figures have attacked a government-funded organisation for sharing articles that were critical of Jeremy Corbyn's views on Russia.

The Integrity Initiative came under fire from Labour's general secretary following a story in our Scottish sister paper, the Sunday Mail.

The Initiative has received more than £2.2million from the Foreign Office in two years to - in ministers' words - "defend democracy against disinformation."

On its website, it describes its key activity as "tackling disinformation in Europe", and particularly "addressing the activities of the Russian state".

However, the Sunday Mail reported that the Initative's Twitter account also shared some material that was critical of Jeremy Corbyn.

One tweet on February 23 shared a link to a newspaper article entitled 'Jeremy Corbyn's sickening support of Soviet empire'.

(Image: Getty Images)

Quoting from the article, the Initiative tweeted: "I do not believe Mr Corbyn was a paid or conscious agent of [Czechoslovakian intelligence]."

But, quoting from the same article, a second tweet added: "Mr Corbyn was a “useful idiot”, in the phrase apocryphally attributed to Lenin.

"His open, visceral anti-westernism helped the Kremlin cause, as surely as if he had been secretly peddling Westminster tittle-tattle for money."

The Initiative quoted another article on Twitter on March 21, writing in quote marks: "Unlike [ex-MP George] Galloway, Corbyn does not scream conspiracy, he implies it."

A further post by the Initiative on April 11 showed a screenshot and stated: "An alleged British Corbyn supporter wants to vote for Putin."

It also shared an article on September 20 entitled: "Skripal poisoning: It's time for the Corbyn left to confront its Putin problem."

A spokesman told the Sunday Mail any criticism of a domestic politician "shouldn't be on" the Twitter account.

However, Labour general secretary Jennie Formby claimed the story was "shocking".

(Image: REUTERS)

Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry added: "It is one of the cardinal rules of British public life that official resources should not be used for party political purposes.

"So, it is simply outrageous that the clearly mis-named 'Integrity Initiative' - funded by the Foreign Office to the tune of £2.25 million over the past two years - has routinely been using its Twitter feed to disseminate personal attacks and smears against the Leader of the Opposition, the Labour Party and Labour officials."

Andrew Fisher, an aide to the Labour leader, said: "This astonishing story really deserves attention."

Labour MSP Neil Findlay told the Sunday Mail: “Such clear political attacks and propaganda shouldn’t be coming from any charity.

"We need to know why the Foreign Office have been funding it.”

(Image: PA)

David Miller, a professor of political sociology in the School for Policy Studies at the University of Bristol, added: “People have a right to know how the Government are spending their money, and the views being promoted in their name.”

The Initiative is "led", according to its website, by the Institute for Statecraft, an organisation operating from an old Victorian mill in Fife.

The Sunday Mail reported it aims to counter Russian online propaganda by forming “clusters” of friendly journalists and “key influencers” throughout Europe who use social media to hit back against disinformation.

Asked about the articles relating to Jeremy Corbyn, spokesman Stephen Dalziel told the Sunday Mail: "I’m not aware of that.

"I’m not the one who controls the Twitter account.

"If it was criticism of one of our politicians, then that shouldn’t be on there.”

Leaked documents passed to the newspaper also reportedly showed the body to be run by military intelligence specialists.

Mr Dalziel said people involved with the organisation including himself had been in the TA or the Army, but added: "Definitely not secret service, I promise you.”

The Initiative has since tweeted: "The Institute for Statecraft is a charity.

"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."

Europe Minister Alan Duncan confirmed last week the Integrity Initiative had received £296,500 in Foreign Office funding last year and £1.96m this year.

He said: "The Institute for Statecraft is an independent, Scottish, charitable body whose work seeks to improve governance and enhance national security. They launched the Integrity Initiative in 2015 to defend democracy against disinformation."