Swinson and co revealed as ‘conspicuous by their absence’, doing next to nothing in EU referendum campaign

LibDem leader Jo Swinson has been widely derided on social media for her attempts to claim Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn didnt ‘fight’ to keep the UK in the European Union during the 2016 referendum campaign.

Critics pointed out that Ms Swinson’s own record during the campaign consisted of a couple of vague Twitter comments and a lot of tweets about cats, while Corbyn’s record of hundreds of rallies, public and media appearances dwarfed that of almost anyone else involved in the campaign on either side:

Jo, during the EU Ref Jeremy Corbyn made 123 media appearances, attended 15 rallies, posted 118 pro-Remain tweets.



By comparison, you were virtually invisible. Rallies? Can't find any. Media appearances? Can't find any. Tweets? A handful amongst mostly really trivial stuff. pic.twitter.com/8rcCmjcwiu — Matt Thomas (@Trickyjabs) August 20, 2019

That is a provable lie. During the EU Referendum Campaign 7 May-22 June 2016, Corbyn, over 46 days, campaigned as follows:



• Traveled 5851km

• Spoke at 15 rallies

• Sent 100 Remain Tweets

• Achieved 33,760 retweets

• Received media exposure 120 times



You however did this: pic.twitter.com/anAm01ajnu — Tory Fibs (@ToryFibs) August 20, 2019

But it wasn’t only a question of Ms Swinson’s personal lack of effort in 2016 that damns the LibDems. As leading academic specialist on the LibDems Professor Andrew Russell pointed out not too long afterward, the whole LibDem party was ‘conspicuous by their absence’ during the campaign:

Journalist Mike Hind – a pro-EU Labour supporter who was one of the first to point out Professor Russell’s findings – considers the current disinformation campaign by Swinson and her party to be not only inaccurate but playing a key role in ‘normalising political lying’:

Liberal Democrat Twitter is playing a significant role in normalising political lying.

Let's flesh this observation out with some data.

And, as a bonus, scotch the myth that the Liberal Democrats have a referendum record to be proud of. Short thread… https://t.co/PvX7c8G9Vc — Mike Hind (@MikeH_PR) August 22, 2019

Hind posted a thread in which he contrasted Corbyn’s record with that of the ‘invisible’ LibDems, Labour supporters’ and LibDem supporters’ referendum voting – and concluded that the LibDems are pushing the UK toward a no-deal Brexit as they abandon facts in favour of lies:

Hyper Remain centre right Twitter loves to say Jeremy Corbyn didn't campaign for Remain in 2016 but went on holiday instead (he took one long weekend break in truth).



Here is an academic perspective on the Lib Dems contribution to the Remain campaign.https://t.co/apshhSCiUy — Mike Hind (@MikeH_PR) August 22, 2019

As for Jeremy Corbyn not campaigning, here is a breakdown of his activities. Think of this as the birth certificate to produce for the Liberal Democrat birtherists. pic.twitter.com/tSpUrNRRE8 — Mike Hind (@MikeH_PR) August 22, 2019

So when supporters of Austerity Jo & her Hashtag Party people say silly things like this, just point out the facts & move on. I know facts are out of fashion but some of us still care about them. pic.twitter.com/VZG5dH62b6 — Mike Hind (@MikeH_PR) August 22, 2019

They are lying and making no-deal more likely. The difference between lies and facts certainly is polarising and I know which pole I'm on — Mike Hind (@MikeH_PR) August 22, 2019

SKWAWKBOX view:

The Professor’s facts shame the LibDems and their latest leader Swinson. Hinds’ conclusions about the significance of those facts are spot on.



No matter how they try to dress it up or point the finger, with their dishonesty the LibDems are putting their shoulder to the wheel to help Boris Johnson tip the UK over the no-deal cliff.

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