An overview of the nefarious activities of the “Mutton Crew”: From Brexit to covid to climate change and Ukraine

The “Mutton Crew” is an organisation with pharmaceutical and financial interests. Although it has links to the British Army, it is not a military unit but its operatives may have been trained in Behavioural Dynamics Methodology, a tactic for profiling and influencing target audiences.

The Mutton Crew derives its name because its members, among other things, have Swaledale Mutton as a top follow or follower on Twitter.  Swaledale Mutton is one of the Twitter profiles for Dr. Graham Bottley, a viral immunologist and trainer in flow cytometry.  According to a 2022 article in The Yorkshire Post, Bottley has a flock of Swaledale sheep (hence the name Swaledale Mutton) and he fits in sheep-keeping courses between work he does for universities and bodies such as Public Health England.

Although we have previously published articles about the Mutton Crew, yesterday we republished an article by LifeSiteNews which provides a substantive introduction into who they are and how they operate.  In the following, The Sentiment Inspector provides an overview of this group’s nefarious connections and activities.

By The Sentiment Inspector

Competitive intelligence (“CI”) has always been, and increasingly so, a crucial tool for shaping public discourse and redefining narratives. In the UK and to some extent around the world, the “Mutton Crew” has emerged as a central player in manipulating public sentiment. Rather than promoting transparency or fact-based narratives, this group actively spreads misinformation to align with its ideological and strategic objectives.

Mutton Crew activities have spanned contentious issues like Brexit, covid-19, climate change and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Using a vast network of accounts, fake organisations and coordinated campaigns, the Mutton Crew seeks to disrupt political opposition, shape public opinion, and maintain control over dominant narratives.

The Mutton Crew and NAFO: Partners in Narrative Manipulation

In the context of the Ukraine war, the Mutton Crew has partnered with NAFO (North Atlantic Fellas Organisation), a decentralised online movement ostensibly aimed at countering pro-Russian propaganda. However, the Mutton Crew’s involvement has brought a twisted aspect to these efforts, as they use their partnership to amplify misinformation and manipulate sentiment in favour of their preferred narratives.

Their focus includes promoting organisations and companies working toward Ukraine’s victory while smearing or discrediting dissenting voices. Social media accounts [Twitter] such as @Number10cat, @YourAnonCentral, and @BladeoftheSun are some of the key amplifiers in this effort, creating the illusion of consensus while attacking opposition viewpoints.

Ukraine, Covid-19 and the Spread of Conspiracy Theories

The war in Ukraine has intersected with covid-19 misinformation, fuelling so-called conspiracy theories that claim links between Ukrainian biolabs and the pandemic. I am not going to try to prove or disprove these theories. That is not why I write these articles.

Rather than debunk these theories, the Mutton Crew exploits them to sow confusion and advance their agenda.

For example, by tying anti-vaccine sentiment to pro-Russian propaganda, the Mutton Crew has worked to polarise public opinion and paint sceptics as aligned with foreign adversaries often labelling them as far-right. This approach creates a false dichotomy, forcing people into ideological camps while masking their true intentions.

Shifting Targets and the Role of Funding

With funding streams and support from multiple corporations and foundations, the Mutton Crew’s focus has shifted over time to align with where sentiment needs the most manipulation. Early campaigns targeting Brexit evolved into pro-vaccine misinformation and now emphasise Ukraine-related narratives.

Their adaptability allows them to exploit emerging crises for political and ideological gain. For example, their partnership with NAFO has expanded their reach on issues related to Ukraine, while their use of conspiracy theories around covid-19 keeps them relevant in health-related debates.

Climate Change and Bovaer Additives

The Mutton Crew has also aligned with climate change organisations to influence public acceptance of products like Bovaer, an additive marketed as a solution to reduce methane emissions from dairy cows. By amplifying the narrative that Bovaer is essential to combating climate change, the Mutton Crew works to create broad support for the adoption of such additives.

Social media campaigns and influencers tied to the Mutton Crew highlight the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, often using fear-based messaging to suppress critical discussion about the long-term efficacy or potential unintended consequences of these additives.

Coordinated Attacks on Dissent

As we know the Mutton Crew operates a network of accounts to target individuals and groups they deem threats to their narratives. Key players such as Jon Morter, Narinder Kaur, Tan Smith, Femi Oluwole and others associated with The Movement Forward are central to these efforts.

This group leverages a mix of high-profile accounts and anonymous handles to spread misinformation, attack critics and reinforce their messaging. Prominent figures act as the public face of these campaigns, while lesser-known pseudonymous accounts focus on coordinated harassment and narrative manipulation focusing on the details of the campaigns.

In a future article, I will talk about some possible ways to discern who runs anon social media accounts using X’s algorithm and the common user mistakes that lead to their unmasking.

A Revelation from a Brexit Contractor

Yesterday, I came across a revelation from a contractor I’ve previously written about, who disclosed that he was offered substantial contracts to promote pro-Brexit sentiment on social media. Although he claims to have declined these offers, his statement sparked a barrage of abuse from a prominent figure associated with the Mutton Crew.

The contractor attempted to downplay the involvement of key people known to be associated with the “Mutton Crew” and portray the group as a smaller, less significant operation than it is known to be. This effort to reshape public perception is consistent with tactics employed by the group, as seen in a recent example where a “Mutton Crew” member, Paul Wilson from New Zealand, tried to falsely depict the group as victims rather than perpetrators of abuse, contradicting established facts.

The Rise of Fake Organisations

As I have mentioned before, the Mutton Crew’s influence extends to creating and working with fake grassroots movements designed to manipulate public anger.  Examples include:

1. Don’t Pay UK, which encouraged citizens to withhold council tax payments, diverting attention from deeper systemic issues.
2. Stop Funding Hate, ostensibly a campaign against unethical media practices, but largely used to silence right-wing voices.
3. Hope Not Hate, which selectively targets right-wing extremism while ignoring similar issues on the left.

These organisations exemplify the Mutton Crew’s strategy of using seemingly legitimate platforms to push divisive narratives and disrupt political opposition.

As I have mentioned before I have uncovered evidence that BBC Verify has a partnership with the Mutton Crew, particularly in relation to their podcasting and video production activities.

The Bigger Picture: Covid-19, Ukraine and Narrative Manipulation

The intersection of covid-19, Ukraine, climate change and other global issues reveals the Mutton Crew’s ability to connect disparate narratives for strategic purposes. By promoting misinformation and conspiracy theories, they muddy the waters of public discourse, making it difficult for people to discern fact from fiction.

For example, their exploitation of covid-19 conspiracies, linking them to biolabs in Ukraine, serves to delegitimise public health efforts and amplify geopolitical tensions. Similarly, their work with climate change organisations to promote solutions like Bovaer illustrates how they exploit pressing global issues to advance their agenda.

Conclusion: Competitive Intelligence as a Tool for Misinformation

The Mutton Crew’s activities demonstrate how competitive intelligence can be weaponised to manipulate public discourse and spread misinformation. From Brexit to covid-19, climate change and Ukraine, their campaigns have targeted political opponents, amplified conspiracy theories and misinformation, and shaped narratives to align with their objectives.

And finally, by exploiting crises and promoting misinformation, the Mutton Crew undermines public trust and contributes to the erosion of democratic discourse. Understanding the methods and motives of groups like the Mutton Crew is essential for fostering a more informed and resilient society.

About the Author

The Sentiment Inspector describes him/herself as a seasoned journalist with experience examining the complex world of psychological operations and sentiment management on social media. In the first of his/her articles published on Substack, The Sentiment Inspector wrote, “I’ve been asked many times about my identity and authenticity, questions I cannot answer right now due to ongoing criminal investigations.”  You can subscribe to and follow The Sentiment Inspector on Substack HERE.

Featured image: Graham Bottley Mutton Crew (right) interviewed by BBC Look North regarding culling of badgers.  Source: YouTube