Civil servants have been accused of trying to censor criticism and debate about immigration during last year\u2019s riots after the Southport stabbings. However, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) doubled down on the claims officials intervened and said it would make \u201cno apologies\u201d for flagging potentially harmful content.<\/p>\n
Republican US congressman Jim Jordan posted emails to X accusing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer<\/a> of trying \u201cto censor criticism of itself<\/a> and debate about immigration\u201d during the riots. In one email, which DSIT did not deny had been sent by a member of its staff, a civil servant commended \u201cproactive efforts\u201d to deal with \u201cmisleading and false claims in relation to this incident feeding community tensions on a local level\u201d.<\/p>\n The anonymous civil servant added: \u201cI am sure you will not be surprised at the significant volumes of anti-immigrant content directed at Muslim and Jewish communities as well as concerning narratives about the police and a \u2018two-tier\u2019 system.\u201d<\/p>\n The department asked social media firms to tell it about \u201cany measures you have taken in response\u201d.<\/p>\n In response, DSIT told the Express it would make \u201cno apologies for flagging to platforms content which is contrary to their own terms of service and which can result in violent disorder on our streets, as we saw in the wake of the horrific Southport attack”.<\/p>\n A government spokesman argued the department had no role in deciding whether posts be taken down, saying that was a matter for social media companies according to their own rules.<\/p>\n However, the spokesman admitted using the Government\u2019s so-called \u201ctrusted flagger status\u201d \u2013 which guarantees them a priority response from social media firms \u2013 to highlight posts it believed breached the platforms\u2019 terms of service.<\/p>\n Reform UK\u2019s deputy leader Richard Tice<\/a> said DSIT\u2019s confession was \u201cappalling\u201d.<\/p>\n He blasted: \u201cI am appalled, but not surprised, that DSIT, a UK government department, delights in confirming it is censoring criticism of government performance.<\/p>\n \u201cIt admits it is shutting down claims of two-tier policing and two-tier justice.\u201d<\/p>\n Allegations of two-tier policing have persisted since the riots, with many arguing that those involved were treated far more harshly by the criminal justice system than other criminals.<\/p>\n