Square Mile strikes back: how the City of London is fighting disinformation about crime

"But the panic over antisocial behaviour and petty crime plaguing the capital has burst out of rightwing circles and social media platforms and into City boardrooms and diplomatic meetings, raising the hackles of state officials and influential financial sector bosses who fear that, if left unchecked, trade, recruitment and business investment could suffer."

"Langley plans to use her one-year term as the Square Mile's regal figurehead to correct and counter anti-London rumours. She expects her campaign to start with meetings with financial sector bodies such as UK Finance, TheCityUK and the Investment Association, to craft and disseminate messages about London's strengths."

"They will be pragmatic, simple, key lines that will centre on London's talent, availability of capital, that it's a nice place to live and work the whole ecosystem, Langley said. I'm not expecting everyone to stick to the same lines, but if we can get the message out that this is what we should be doing, then it's like kind of rippling a pond."

Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and Nigel Farage have made inflammatory claims about crime and safety in London, contributing to widespread disinformation about the capital. These statements have moved beyond social media and far-right circles into boardrooms and diplomatic discussions, raising concerns among financial sector leaders and government officials about potential damage to business investment, recruitment, and trade. Dame Susan Langley, the City of London's mayor, is leading a counter-campaign to combat these false narratives. Her strategy involves coordinating with major financial sector organizations to develop and disseminate positive messaging about London's strengths, including its talent pool, available capital, and quality of life. The initiative aims to encourage business leaders to actively promote London's advantages and counter the damaging disinformation.

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