UK government paid influencers around £2m, investigation finds
A Politico investigation has found that Keir Starmer's government spent roughly £2 million on paying influencers to promote its message, as concerns grow over energy bills set to rise sharply in January.
Hosts Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy of Politico Europe's "Politics at Sam and Anne's" podcast discussed how political communication in the UK has shifted in recent years. Coates revealed exclusive figures showing that Keir Starmer's government has spent approximately £2 million paying social media influencers to help promote its messaging.
Politicians as their own media operation
The discussion also covered Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who has taken a different approach by putting himself directly at the centre of his own social media operation rather than relying solely on traditional channels.
A new thinktank with less scrutiny
The hosts also reported that Morgan McSweeney, a former chief of staff at Number 10, is preparing to launch a new thinktank. The organisation is intended to shape thinking inside Downing Street, but would operate with considerably less public scrutiny than government departments face.
Concerns over rising energy bills
The episode also addressed forecasts that household energy bills could climb to near £450 in January. The hosts examined how concerned the government is about the coming price rise and what measures it might take to support families facing higher costs.
