Opinion: Social Media Tactics Expose Labour’s Election Nerves in Hartlepool...
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Labour 'Feeling the Pressure', as Online Attacks Replace Local Campaigning
17th April 2026
Hartlepool Labour councillors and their candidates have been found “trolling” opposition groups on social media, telling you everything you need to know about just how low the bar has now been set in Hartlepool’s local elections.
It’s often said that during local election season in Hartlepool, you can expect a wave of left-wing activists from across the country descending online to social media feeds relating to Hartlepool's political activities, attempting to discredit political opponents by any means necessary. Increasingly, that claim doesn’t look exaggerated — it looks accurate.
Only a few years ago, an independent candidate posted on social media about a local issue in the council ward they were standing in, only to find themselves targeted by what was described at the time as a coordinated left wing extremist pile-on. A succession of politically motivated accounts jumped in, launching a smear campaign that ultimately drove the candidate simply to withdraw from running in the elections. Where, in their own words, standing in the election simply “wasn’t worth the effort.”
Fast forward to the May 2026 local elections, and the situation appears to be deteriorating ever further. With Labour seemingly now on the back foot, residents are said to be witnessing a surge of Hartlepool Labour councillors and their candidates inserting themselves into opposition social media spaces — taking digs at rival parties and engaging in political point-scoring that reflects just how far the standards have slipped in local elections.
Take councillors like Martin Scarborough, who's currently facing scrutiny of his own, after it emerged that, in his professional capacity, he's legally defended multiple sex offenders — some of whom have gone on to reoffend. This sits uncomfortably alongside Labour’s repeated messaging around women’s rights, and raises questions that many in the public will inevitably ask as to whether his role as a defence solicitor is compatible with his role in public life, as well as that of a local children's charity where he serves on the board of directors.
Then there is Jack Callaghan, a Labour Candidate linked to the controversial 'Young Fabians' — a group that was subject to an investigation resulting in its disbandment and subsequent overhaul following allegations of bullying and misogyny.
Tom Feeney, a former Labour councillor, chose to leave the party to sit as an independent, citing concerns that Labour wasn't doing enough to support trans people. While that decision reflects internal divisions within the party, it also highlights the broader fragmentation Labour's now facing both locally & nationally.
These are just a handful of examples, but they all point to a wider pattern: councillors and candidates increasingly appearing to focus their efforts on attacking political opponents online, rather than making their case to voters. It gives you the impression of a party bracing itself for a very difficult election result.
And the political reality is hard to ignore. Labour appears to be struggling in the polls. Reports from the doorstep suggest Labours campaigns aren't going as well as they expected. Meanwhile, the Greens, Reform, and the Liberal Democrats have all fielded candidates across most — if not all —Hartlepool wards, tightening the electoral landscape considerably.
Like them or not, the Greens will attract the disillusioned Labour voter, while Reform could capitalise on those looking for an alternative altogether. That leaves Labour facing a squeeze from multiple directions & on all political fronts.
In that context, the increased online activity from Labour against its political opponents begins to make more sense. But to many voters, it risks coming across not as strength, but as desperation — a sign of a party turning to petty social media tactics in an attempt to undermine opponents, rather than winning support on its own record.
As Hartlepool heads towards polling day, one thing's becoming clear: this election isn't just about a contest of policies, but of tone, conduct, and credibility. And right now, many will be questioning whether the standards being set are anywhere near where they should be & for some, whether this will be the way they conduct themselves if ever elected !
