Manipulated content: Sir Keir Starmer interview

The Conservative Party blatantly manipulated a video interview with Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer. Piers Morgan called it out. The campaign doubled down. The conversation continues.

Video editing, manipulation and so called deep fakes are making it harder than ever to determine truth from fiction.

The Conservative Party edited a video interview with Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer on Tuesday to make it appear as if he stuttered and was unsure of Labour’s Brexit policy. In fact Starmer answered the question immediately.

The interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain was shared via the Conservative party’s social media channels. Presenter Piers Morgan called out the manipulation.

You doctored the end of the clip you originally put out, to make it look like @Keir_Starmer had no answer to my question. In fact he answered immediately. You could have had plenty of fun with that interview anyway - why fake it? https://t.co/nskZ0hgnyc

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 5, 2019

In response the Conservative Party deleted its original video and reissued a second version of the interview.

Fair point @piersmorgan. Is this version better? https://t.co/OfLl4VTrw7 pic.twitter.com/5ejj7I91WJ

— CCHQ Press Office (@CCHQPress) November 5, 2019

Deleting and re-posting content is a feature of digital campaigning. It’s the same mechanic as an apology in which the original content is amplified and continues to spread.

Politics is a dirty business especially in the digital sphere but the tactics of the current election campaign are under scrutiny like never before.

I’m going to try and keep a diary on my blog of how the different political campaigns engage with social and mainstream media during the 2019 election. If you spot a story that you think merits investigation please let me know.