Theresa May calls for grassroots army of Conservative Party activists to match Jeremy Corbyn
THERESA May is to set up her own grassroots army of supporters to take on Jeremy Corbyn’s Momentum.
The PM admits the Tories were outfought by Labour at the last general election – and is planning ahead for the future.
She is hiring troops of paid “foot soldiers” to flood key battlegrounds where Mr Corbyn’s well-organised fanatics are active.
They will be backed by units of keyboard warriors who will take the fight to Momentum – the far-Left grassroots movement - on Twitter and Facebook.
The teams will be led by Momentum-busting campaign managers trained in cutting-edge propaganda warfare.
Mrs May has told party officials the units must be mobilised quickly – in time for the crucial local elections in May.
She has written to activists urging them to help build a strong group of dedicated volunteers in every seat to back up the paid campaigners.
In her letter, she says: “We are recruiting a new army of foot soldiers to take the fight to Labour.
"It is clear from the results of the general election that we are more likely to win seats in which our organisation is strong.
“And it is an unfortunate fact that Labour’s organisation was better in many seats than ours.”
Party organisers are concerned by private polling which shows Labour is set to increase its grip on local councils across the land.
They admit they were out-fought by Momentum on social media and they need to raise their game dramatically.
Paid managers will be briefed to train up volunteers in how to create witty and memorable virals to spread the message across the internet.
They will also be trained in tactics on how to face down Lefty trolls who have driven many Tory tweeters off social media.
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A party insider said yesterday: “Our aim is to replicate the organisational skills of Momentum – but not their tactics.
“If you like, you could call it Momentum without the intimidation, sexism or anti-semitism.”
Stop arguing
THE time for arguing about Brexit is gone, says the PM.
Theresa May insisted: “Let’s get on with it.”
She said her speech on Friday set out an “ambitious vision” of Britain’s future partnership with the EU.
In an interview with the BBC’s Andrew Marr to be shown today, she said: “I was being straight with people.
"What I put forward is credible because it’s based in practicality.”
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