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Jeremy Corbyn confirms he will not be closing down his Facebook page following data scandal

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“Online is where it’s at.”


Jeremy Corbyn has confirmed he will not be closing down his Facebook page following the recent data misuse scandal.

Launching Labour’s local election campaign in Stretford on Thursday, Corbyn confirmed he will not be coming off the social media site, on which he has 1.3 million followers.

Facebook boycott calls have been growing since the Christopher Wylie blew the whistle on the Cambridge Analytica scandal last weekend.

Addressing the press directly, Corbyn said: “Are we going to be closing down our Facebook account and our Twitter accounts, and so on? No. We are going to keep those active.”

He said that social media was an important tool, which enabled his Party to get their messages across without “moderation”, but he would support data protection legislation.

“Yes, there is a serious issue about the administration and data harvesting [but] in reality, many people, particularly younger people and those under 40 tend to communicate on social media rather than through newspapers. Online is where it’s at for a very large number of people,” he said.

The local elections are taking place on 3rd May. Corbyn told supporters: “This year more than ever it is vital people vote Labour for a Labour council to protect and support your community.”

“On May 3rd people have the chance to send an unmistakable message to this government that enough is enough,” he said.

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Natalie Carragher

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