#StopFundingHate: Twitter users demand Daily Mail boycott over Brexit ruling coverage
Thousands have taken to social media with the hashtag #StopFundingHate to urge companies advertising with the Daily Mail to stop in response to the paper’s coverage of Thursday’s high court ruling on Brexit.
Prime Minister Theresa May’s government suffered a blow on Thursday when judges ruled that parliament would need to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to formally start the UK’s exit from the EU - a decision which has left many Leave supporters furious.
In reaction, British newspapers attacked the judges behind the ruling, suggesting it was a display of judicial independence gone too far.
DAILY MAIL: Enemies of the people #tomorrowspaperstoday#bbcpaperspic.twitter.com/n5ynFalnEa
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) November 3, 2016
THE SUN: Who do EU think you are? #tomorrowspaperstoday#bbcpaperspic.twitter.com/WlOx5URDZa
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) November 3, 2016
The opening paragraph is quite possibly the biggest overreaction in newspaper history. pic.twitter.com/VgUj6vr5bW
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 3, 2016
"Do they look evil enough?"
— Jack Tindale (@JackTindale) November 3, 2016
"I was thinking the same."
"Try a blue filter."
"There we go." pic.twitter.com/wk1EChkTzP
Stop Funding Hate, a group set up to put pressure on advertisers funding the newspaper, raised concern about the Daily Mail’s “expose” on the “out of touch” judges. The paper branded them “enemies of the state” a day after deriding one as “openly gay.”
In a Facebook post, Stop Funding Hate said it would call out every advertiser featured in the Daily Mail on Friday.
Co-op UK, British Airways, Mercedes Benz, Iceland supermarket, Asda, and Morrisons are among those named. The hashtag soon began trending, with many backing the movement.
Dear @British_Airways: My family & I have flown BA in the past, but we will no longer do so until you #StopFundingHate. https://t.co/2EcHs6GrYT
— Terri Windling (@terriwindling) November 4, 2016
Absolutely delighted to see #StopFundingHate trending. The only way to get the tabloid press out of the sewers is to hit them where it hurts
— Lee Graham (@leepg) November 4, 2016
.@asda@morrisons Stop advertising in papers spreading hate, vitriol and bigotry, such as @DailyMailUK@dailyexpressuk#StopFundingHate
— (((Snigdha))) (@snigskitchen) November 4, 2016
Please stop advertising in the Daily Mail @Morrisons@MercedesBenz@British_Airways#StopFundingHate
— The European (@EuropaResist) November 4, 2016
Lawyers and legal experts also thought the newspapers’ sentiments were over the top.
This is getting completely out of hand. If The Daily Mail speaks of Judges as enemies of the people, democracy is being undermined. Shame!
— Nigel Pascoe QC (@nigel_pascoe) November 3, 2016
Today's a bad day for the constitution
— The CBA (@TheCriminalBar) November 4, 2016
Not because of #Brexit case but attacks on independent judiciary & rule of law pic.twitter.com/f1ohqkGXNi
The Family Law Bar Association condemns such utterly irresponsible journalism @DailyMailUKpic.twitter.com/cntaWxTQAa
— FLBA (@FamilyLawBar) November 3, 2016
"We want UK judges deciding on UK legal matters!"
— Law and policy (@Law_and_policy) November 3, 2016
- UK judges decide on UK legal matters.
"ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE!"
Others labelled the newspapers’ front pages “dangerous” and “irresponsible.”
TOP TIP: Pretend to be your own "Pro Article 50" Judge by making a wig out of sausage rolls and swearing behind a copy of the Daily Mail.
— Jack Tindale (@JackTindale) November 4, 2016
"Enemies of the People" headline in the Mail has me livid this morning!
— David Armstrong (@tiggtag) November 4, 2016
It's irresponsible and dangerous and close to inciting civil unrest
If the worst they can say about you is you're an OPENLY GAY EX-OLYMPIC FENCER TOP JUDGE, you've basically won life. pic.twitter.com/j8tUTjODuP
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) November 3, 2016
Thank you, people of London #enemiesofthepeoplepic.twitter.com/CfErh0ydSg
— James Hawes (@JamesEHawes) November 4, 2016
The High Court are not #enemiesofthepeople these six are. #StopFundingHatepic.twitter.com/UCw9Ij63QQ
— Lee McAllen (@LeeMcAllen) November 4, 2016
What kind of inward-looking, fascist state is the UK sleepwalking into?
— David Armstrong (@tiggtag) November 4, 2016
What is the Mail proposing we do with "enemies of the people"?
In August, the Stop Funding Hate campaign ran a similar drive urging brands to pull advertising from the Daily Mail - as well as the Sun and the Express - for their coverage of refugees and migrants. The trio of tabloids was accused of using “fear and division to sell more papers.”
