Voters braced for deluge of Facebook and Instagram messages as political ad spend increases
Spending on Facebook and Instagram advertising by the two main political parties is more than 10 times higher this year compared to the start of 2023, Sky News can reveal.
Spending on social media by Labour and the Conservatives is due to dramatically escalate through the course of the year due to spending and data rule changes which benefit the two main parties.
Maximum spending limits by the parties are due to raise by 80% while data rules are about to change which make it easier to use and target individuals with political advertising.
The two main parties are preparing to do battle on mobile phones at the next election by bombarding voters with targeted advertisements between now and polling day.
Smaller parties have complained about the changes, with the Liberal Democrats suggesting the rules for the upcoming election have been tilted in the Conservatives’ favour as the party with the deepest pockets.
However so far this year our research suggests that Labour has been keeping pace with them, although no other party has managed a meaningful spend on Facebook or Instagram.
Spending has already increased dramatically. In the first five weeks of 2023, they spent just over £67,000 while in the same period this year, they spent just over £724,000.
Already this year, spending by Labour and Tories is matching the outlay in the last month before the general election.
Pic: PA
The data was compiled by the Who Targets Me website which monitors the spending declared by Meta, Facebook and Instagram’s parent company.
Facebook and Instagram allow personalised, targeted ads which will become a big campaign weapon.
Users over the age of 50 are likely to be seeing Tory adverts about the economy, or Labour messaging on knife crime.
Under 40s are likely to get advertisements offering WhatsApps “direct” from the prime minister, or messages about Labour cracking down on tax avoidance.
Pic: PA
The two main parties dominate Facebook and Instagram spending: 52% has been spent on Conservative advertising, 45% on Labour, but just 1.6% by Lib Dems, 0.5% by the Greens and 0.2% by Reform.
Analysis of Tory spending in the early part of the campaign suggest they are not just targeting spending at seats which they need to hold to keep Rishi Sunak in Downing Street.
Sky News has looked at adverts pushed by local MPs and paid for by the Central Conservative Party over the last 90 days. This revealed they have spent over £500 in 74 different constituencies.
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Twenty one seats have what would normally be considered a solid Tory majority – of over 8,000. If you’re struggling to defend these seats, then you’re heading for a hung Parliament or Labour majority.
There are even seats with big spends that have Tory majorities of over 20,000.
Cash going into defending places that were – once – solidly blue.
Sam Jeffers, who runs Who Targets Me, said: “So there’s a new data bill, coming forward, and it’s quite close to being done.
“And it will change the emphasis, I think, of the way that political parties can do their campaigning.
“So there is a new thing in this bill allowing for Democratic engagement. And effectively, it sort of slightly loosens the rules, but they’ll be able to contact voters more easily.
“They’ll need less permission to do so. And so the probable result of that will be a lot more contact for political parties.”
Asked if voters should brace for a deluge of information through every platform and every meme this election, Jeffers said: “I think there could well be a lot more contact of voters this election. Yeah, there’s a lot more money. There’s a lot more data.
“You should expect to hear from political parties over the next year.”
Singer Linda Nolan, who rose to fame alongside her sisters in The Nolans, has died after several years of battling cancer.
The Irish star, 65, and her sisters Coleen, Maureen, Bernie, Denise and Anne, had a run of hits in the late 1970s and ’80s – including the disco classic I’m In The Mood For Dancing.
Paying tribute on The Nolans‘ X account, her sisters described her as “a pop icon and beacon of hope”, who “faced incurable cancer with courage, grace and determination, inspiring millions”.
Linda died peacefully in hospital this morning, “embraced with love and comfort” with her siblings by her side, her agent Dermot McNamara said in a statement.
“As a member of The Nolans, one of the most successful girl groups of all time, Linda achieved global success; becoming the first Irish act to sell over a million records worldwide, touring the world and selling over 30 million records,” he said.
“Her distinctive voice and magnetic stage presence brought joy to fans around the world, securing her place as an icon of British and Irish entertainment.”
As well as her TV and musical career, Linda helped to raise more than £20 million for numerous charities, including Breast Cancer Now, Irish Cancer Society, Samaritans and others.
“Her selflessness and tireless commitment to making a difference in the lives of others will forever be a cornerstone of her legacy,” Mr McNamara said.
Five of the Nolans in 1983 (L-R): Linda, Anne, Bernie, Coleen and Maureen. Pic: PA
Linda’s death came after she was admitted to hospital with pneumonia over the weekend. She began receiving end-of-life care after slipping into a coma on Tuesday.
Details of a celebration of the star’s “remarkable life” will be shared in due course.
Linda was born to Tommy and Maureen Nolan in Dublin on 23 February 1959, the sixth of eight children.
Her parents were both singers and keen to turn their young family into a musical troupe. Linda made her stage debut aged just four.
Those early years put the siblings on track for a career in show business which lasted for decades. As well as I’m In The Mood For Dancing, The Nolans had hits with Gotta Pull Myself Together, Attention To Me and Don’t Make Waves, and they also had their own TV specials.
At their height, they toured with Frank Sinatra and were reported to have outsold The Beatles in Japan.
Linda left the group in 1983, but later reformed with her sisters for several comeback performances. She also became known for musical theatre, most notably performing the role of Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers for three years from 2000.
L-R: Bernie, Denise, Linda (top), Anne and Maureen Nolan pictured in 1975, before youngest sister Coleen joined the group
Four siblings struck by cancer
Linda was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, and underwent a mastectomy two days before her 47th birthday.
After being given the all-clear in 2011, in 2017 she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. Three years later, Linda and Anne together revealed they were being treated for cancer once again.
The sisters were diagnosed with different forms of the disease just days apart after they returned home from filming a series of their show, The Nolans Go Cruising. Linda had cancer of the liver, while Anne had breast cancer.
The star, pictured last year, had battled cancer for several years. Pic: Shutterstock
They went on to write Stronger Together, an account of their journey that included frank details of their treatments and the side effects.
But in 2023, Linda revealed the cancer had spread to her brain and she was beginning treatment as part of a new drug trial.
The Nolans lost their second-youngest sister, Bernie, to cancer in 2013, aged 52.
Loose Women star Coleen Nolan also revealed she was diagnosed with skin cancer last year, and said she was using a chemotherapy cream to remove it.
Linda’s husband of 26 years, Brian Hudson, died in 2007 after being diagnosed with skin cancer.
Anne Nolan is now cancer-free.
Tributes to star ‘who was always a joy’
TV star and singer Cheryl Baker and comedian Tommy Cannon are among those who have paid tribute.
“I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Linda Nolan,” Cannon wrote on X. “I had the pleasure of working with her on so many occasions, and she was always a joy – full of warmth and love. My thoughts and love are with the Nolan girls and the whole family.”
“The most incredible voice, the wickedest sense of humour, such a massive talent,” Baker wrote. “You’re with Brian now, Lin.”
Loose Women also sent its love to her family. Linda appeared as a guest panellist on the ITV chat show over the years, alongside her sister Coleen.
The Blackpool Grand Theatre described her as “a true Blackpool icon”.
A 20-year-old trainee gas engineer who won £7.5m says he was back working on blocked drains the day after claiming his cash.
James Clarkson, 20, from Carlisle, Cumbria, found out he’d hit the £7,533,329 National Lottery jackpot on 4 January – but said he has no plans to quit his job.
“I was out in the cold fixing blocked drains the day after I found out I had won,” he said.
“It was a bit grim but that’s reality.
“I’m not going to stop working, I’m too young,” he added, admitting he knew it might sound “mad” to some.
“I want to qualify as a heating engineer and then go from there.
“I need to have a purpose in life, plus dad wouldn’t let me not work anyway. He says there are plenty of millionaires out there that still work and you need a reason to get up each day.”
Mr Clarkson celebrating with his family. Pic: PA
Mr Clarkson added he still planned to have “some nice holidays” in between working, and revealed one of his first purchases was an all-inclusive luxury break to Cape Verde, along with a few designer items including a Gucci bag for his girlfriend and two new jackets for himself.
He said he also planned to splash out on a new car, possibly an Audi – but for now, he’s got his work van.
“If you drive a cold work van all day, going from job to job, you’d understand,” he said.
“The comfort, the steering, the heated seats. I realise how jammy that sounds, not many people my age can afford the car insurance let alone a car like that to drive.”
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As a huge Manchester City fan, he said he was also looking to buy a season ticket at the Etihad Stadium, as well as taking care of his extended family – starting with paying off his parents’ mortgage.
The new multi-millionaire holds up bespoke Manchester City kit celebrating his win. Pic: PA
He said: “I’ve been thinking about it a lot, it’s what I want to do. I told them last night and they seemed really overwhelmed.
“We are close and they have always been there for me. This win isn’t just for me, I want to make sure we all benefit.”
Mr Clarkson played on the National Lottery app, choosing his winning numbers – 16, 19, 22, 24, 27 and 35 – at random.
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