New Green MP Hannah Spencer Criticizes Misinformation Campaign Before Election

New Green Party MP Hannah Spencer has strongly criticized what she describes as “misinformation” targeting her during the recent election campaign, saying false narratives nearly derailed her bid for Parliament.

Spencer, who successfully won her seat in the October general election, told reporters that she faced a barrage of misleading claims in the final weeks before voters went to the polls. The accusations, which circulated widely on social media platforms and through local networks, included fabricated policy positions and personal attacks.

“The level of targeted misinformation was deeply concerning,” Spencer said. “We’re not talking about normal political debate or criticism of actual policies. These were completely manufactured claims designed specifically to mislead voters about who I am and what I stand for.”

The MP detailed several examples of false information that spread throughout her constituency, including claims that she supported controversial housing developments that would destroy protected green spaces—despite her campaign explicitly opposing such projects. Other misinformation suggested she had hidden financial interests in renewable energy companies that stood to benefit from Green Party policies.

Spencer’s experience reflects a growing concern about misinformation in electoral politics, a phenomenon that has intensified with the rise of social media. Political analysts have noted that local and regional elections are increasingly vulnerable to targeted disinformation campaigns, which can be more difficult to track and counter than national-level misinformation.

Dr. Eleanor Prescott, a political communication researcher at Cambridge University, explained the evolving challenge: “Constituency-level misinformation is particularly effective because it’s often spread through trusted local networks and focuses on issues that directly affect voters’ communities. It’s harder to fact-check and counter these hyperlocal claims.”

The Green Party provided evidence that several anonymous social media accounts created just weeks before the election were responsible for amplifying false claims about Spencer. Party officials said they attempted to address the misinformation through direct voter engagement and local media interviews, but found the false narratives continued to spread.

“We were constantly playing defense,” said James Morton, Spencer’s campaign manager. “Every day we had to divert resources away from communicating our actual policies to instead debunk new falsehoods. It was a deliberate strategy to exhaust our resources.”

Despite these challenges, Spencer secured her seat with a narrow margin of 1,823 votes. She attributes her victory to an intensive door-to-door campaign that allowed her to speak directly with voters about her actual policy positions, particularly on environmental protection and local economic development.

The Electoral Commission has acknowledged the growing problem of constituency-level misinformation but notes that current regulations have limited scope to address online falsehoods during campaigns. A spokesperson said the commission is “reviewing international best practices” to develop better guidelines for future elections.

Spencer has called for greater transparency in campaign communications, including clearer identification requirements for political advertising on social media platforms. She has also emphasized the need for more robust fact-checking resources at the local level.

“This isn’t just about my campaign or the Green Party,” Spencer said. “When voters are deliberately misled, it undermines the democratic process for everyone. We need to take this seriously as a threat to fair elections.”

Political observers note that Spencer’s experience is likely to become increasingly common as digital campaigning evolves. Smaller parties and first-time candidates are particularly vulnerable to such tactics, as they often lack the resources and established media relationships needed to effectively counter misinformation.

As she begins her term in Parliament, Spencer has indicated that addressing electoral misinformation will be one of her policy priorities, alongside her party’s core environmental agenda. She plans to work across party lines to develop practical solutions that protect the integrity of future elections while preserving free political speech.