Boris2020: Online campaign to make Boris Johnson prime minister is being run by owner of Guido Fawkes political website
Promotion similar to earlier push for MPs to vote against Theresa May’s deal
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Your support makes all the difference.A social media campaign to make Boris Johnson the next prime minister is being run by the owner of the notorious political website Guido Fawkes, it has been revealed.
A website called Boris2020.org is urging members of the public to get “Boris On The Ballot”, claiming there is a “plot” by pro-EU Conservative MPs to thwart him.
The campaign provoked suspicion because it is similar to the online advertising, earlier this year, that pressured MPs to vote against Theresa May’s doomed deal.
That first campaign was linked to employees of Sir Lynton Crosby – the Australian strategist behind David Cameron’s 2015 election victory, who is now believed to be advising Mr Johnson.
Now Paul Staines, the owner of Guido Fawkes, has admitted he is behind the Boris2020.org campaign, but insisted it is not formally connected to the former minister’s bid for power.
“I haven't spoken to anyone, I am doing it off my own bat,” he told BuzzFeed, adding: “It's no secret that I am a Boris backer.”
The website, which appeared this week, says: “Remain MPs are plotting to keep Boris off your ballot.”
“Use this form to tell your MP now: members must not be denied a real choice.” They are urged to click a box marked “I back Boris”.
The small print of the Boris2020 website privacy policy revealed the campaign’s data controller is a company called CampaignAction Limited.
BuzzFeed discovered, from a search of the Information Commissioner’s Office register that the registered company’s data protection officer is Mr Staines, the founder and owner of Guido Fawkes.
A separate search of registration information relating to the Boris2020.org domain revealed that the website was created in April 2012 by Paul Staines of MessageSpace Limited, BuzzFeed reported.
Guido Fawkes is among the most influential websites in British politics and is currently running a spreadsheet showing which Tory MPs are backing each of the candidates in the leadership race.
Nicky Morgan, the former education secretary, has protested about the campaign on Twitter, saying: “Ways not to endear yourself to colleagues #1 – get someone to encourage standard emails are sent on your behalf to ensure you’re on the ballot paper.”
The tweet added: “Please @BorisJohnson I’ve got enough emails about real local & national issues of concern already!”
The former foreign secretary is the strong favourite to grab the leadership, with a hard-Brexit pitch to the Tories’ Eurosceptic membership – which will make the final choice.
On Friday, he vowed to crash the UK out of the EU without a deal if necessary at the end of October.
“We will leave the EU on October 31, deal or no deal,” Mr Johnson said: “The way to get a good deal is to prepare for a no deal.”
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