Jacob Rees-Mogg ordered civil servants to comb social media Accounts of guest speakers in attempt to weed out “extremists”.
New Cabinet of Ministers rules introduced last a week also we urge managers to carefully check profiles of visitors take part in “training and development” events including for criticism of government policy.
AT new The verification process includes viewing Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn posts from past three to five years to find “potentially problematic or controversial material which may conflict with the values of the public service.”
Allies of Mr Rees-Mogg, minister for Brexit opportunities and government efficiency, hailed “very sensible” new measures.
A colleague told the Financial Times: “Recently there have been too many examples of extremist speakers being invited to speak to government officials and staff.”
Professor Priyamvada Gopal was recalled
Managers also expected to look for Any content which betrays “strong political partisanship” or may undermine reputation of public service if a specific person is to be invited for en event.
Professor Priyamvada Gopal, a leftist academic at the University of Cambridge, has been denied an invitation to speak public service at the Home Office. in October over she comments made about Priti Patel on Twitter.
Professor Gopal wrote about the minister of the interior, whose parents fled from Rwanda in 1960s: “Priity Patel also a reminder that many Asians in British Africa vehemently opposed black relations and were used by colonial administrations to maintain black population in them place. The attitude she brings [the] Government.”
Afua Hirsch, a writer and broadcaster, addressed Interior Ministry officials during online lecture despite having publicly accused Boris Johnson of committing a litany of racist statements” and saying “His stupid stupidity is part of of Electoral brand of Boris Johnson.
Last year, The Telegraph reported that government employees were warned not to invite who “spoke against key government politics” and were called upon to conduct out due diligence check on speakers.
Tweets against Boris Johnson
There was embarrassment for government in June when series of David Butress tweets against Boris Johnson just hours after he was appointed new cost of living king.
Mr Butress called for Mr Johnson is leaving over “a party”, writing: “Why is this the worst people often rise to highest office and stay there? Boris must go just must.”
This was reported in the apparatus of the Cabinet of Ministers. in his statement new policy would “ensure there is a right process for invitation of speakers to communicate with government officials in Cabinet of Ministers as public rightly expecting.
it added: “We take zero- tolerant approach to discriminatory behavior, and this process will help prevent anyone with a history of such comments from the invitation”.
