Nigel Farage brutally mocked for hysterical claim that Andy Burnham is setting up ‘Ministry of Truth’ to attack free speech

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is being brutally mocked for claiming that Prime Minister Andy Burnham is setting up a ‘Ministry of Truth’ to attack free speech.

Farage made a video shared on social media where he decried Burnham’s decision to set up The National Centre for Information Defence which will be tasked with tackling disinformation and deepfakes from hostile states such as Russia.

Burnham made the announcement during his first speech as Prime Minister at the UN yesterday, saying that the government had an interest in tackling disinformation from hostile actors.

The National Centre for Information Defence will “detect, attribute and disrupt” information attacks by foreign powers, many of which are enabled by AI, bringing together the intelligence agencies, law enforcement and social media companies.

It will be tasked with ensuring that the UK is able to combat information warfare with Burnham saying that the country would have to go into the next decade “eyes wide open” about “insidious” campaigns, many of which had been orchestrated by Russia, which “twisted” what people at home felt about their own country and community.

While such efforts should be applauded, Farage posted a clip on social media claiming that the Prime Minister was setting up a Ministry of Truth to clamp down on free speech.

“You know what will happen with this government, already he’s said its to stop far-right tropes. This will be like George Orwell’s ministry of information. This will be used to clamp down on free speech.”

His comments were criticised online, with one social media user writing: “The National Centre for Information Defence will be tasked with tackling Russian disinformation. It’s unclear why Farage, whose former colleague Nathan Gill is currently in prison for accepting bribes to make pro-Russian statements, is against this.”

Another addded: “Andy Burnham is setting up a Ministry of Truth to clamp down on Farage’s links to Russia. There fixed it for you.”