Government to create a new unit to tackle 'fake news'

The Government is to create a new unit to counter "fake news" Downing Street has said.

A spokesperson for Theresa May said that the new national security communications unit would be tasked with “combating disinformation by state actors and others".

“Fake news”, which is frequently a feature of Donald Trump’s rhetoric, was declared the word of 2017 by Collins Dictionary.

It has become a term used to describe false information created to misinform the public.

The move to create a new unit came as the National Security Council, chaired by Prime Minister Theresa May agreed the main findings of an across-Whitehall review of national security capabilities.

“We are living in an era of fake news and competing narratives. The government will respond with more and better use of national security communications to tackle these interconnected, complex challenges.” The Spokesperson said.

“To do this we will build on existing capabilities by creating a dedicated national security communications unit. This will be tasked with combating disinformation by state actors and others.” They continued.

There is currently no information on where the new unit will be based or who would staff it.

The move to spin off the defence element from the main National Security Capability Review (NSCR) will be seen as a partial victory for Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson who has been resisting pressure to make further defence cuts.

Experts say the cuts are needed as ministers failed properly fund the last strategic defence and security review (SDSR) in 2015.

The announcement of the new review comes after the head of the Army, General Sir Nick Carter, warned Britain's ability to counter threats to national security would be "eroded" if it failed to keep up with potential aggressors like Russia.

The Prime Minister's spokesman refused to be drawn on whether it would mean mores resources for the military - pointing out the Government was already committed to increasing the defence budget by 0.5% over and above inflation year-by-year.