There’s no other way to describe it: Activate, allegedly the Tory version of Momentum, is in chaos – with allegations of ‘Nazi chat’ on WhatsApp followed by a denial from organisers that they are even up and running, despite having launched on Twitter earlier this week.

What the blazes is going on?

Well, after the highly-parodied launch of Activate, earlier this week, it seems a certain right-wing blog – that’s correct, a right-wing blog – published details of a WhatsApp chat by group members, containing some highly objectionable statements:

Gassing chavs? Running medical experiments on them? That is not turning to a Nazi chat – it is Nazi language.

Greater control of media and television? More Nazi chat. As is introducing compulsory birth control on – guess who? – chavs. And what does one say about turning the Isle of Wight onto a “super prison” and “shooting peasants”?

Clearly someone at Activate HQ (if there is such a thing) saw what was going on and realised damage limitation was necessary. So the following statement appeared:

“Not officially launched” yet? Then why all the hullabaloo on Twitter? There’s a Facebook page, a website and a Twitter feed – all active… and a presence on WhatsApp, it seems.

“Activate is in no way, shape or form associated with the Conservative Party”? But what about this, from the Activate website:

We are committed to modern, open and member-driven politics in the Conservative Party, working to get Conservatives elected and ensuring that a Conservative government is in power.

Or indeed, their constitution, which declares that Activate members are “expected to be members of the Conservative Party” and membership is “not compatible with membership of any registered political party other than the Conservative Party“?

I ask merely for information.

“The ‘Whatsapp’ posts that are being connected to Activate by the media did not originate from Activate or any of our members.” Really? I wonder. Because someone came onto that WhatsApp chat and did this:

So it seems as though someone from Activate HQ (if it exists) has tried to be a voice of reason – but too late, because the chat has already turned up on the – and I stress this, right-wing – site mentioned in the last message.

Inevitably, Twitter has been having fun:

Some took an opportunity to remind us all about the recent media attack on Laura Pidcock, who said she would not treat Tories as friends:

https://twitter.com/PRHRoy/status/902927961829117952

But worse was to follow:

Perhaps they had a bad “felling” about their spelling?

Or – no. It had to be a hack, right?

https://twitter.com/ActivateBritain/status/903272243291095040

Riiiiiiight.

Some of the responses suggest that people did not take this claim seriously…

… especially as someone at Activate actually ReTweeted Russ Roberts’s reply:

https://twitter.com/TheSexiBoi/status/903284936672759808

And now, the final indignity: A rival Tory-supporting grassroots group has been set up, apparently by an estranged former member:

Our Conviction? It looks like a group suggesting the Tories should all be in jail.

And is it any better than Activate? Weeeeeell…

https://twitter.com/TheMendozaWoman/status/903342216302796800

Keep your eyes on this one, folks – it can only get worse for the Conservatives.

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