The British government has admitted to paying social media influencers and reality TV stars to promote its coronavirus test and trace system as it failed to reach its 80 per cent target for the ninth week in a row.
A spokesman said the UK government had a responsibility to “use every means possible” to keep the public informed during the pandemic.
He said: “Our use of social media influencers has meant over 7 million people have been reached. This is just one part of a wider campaign utilising TV, radio, social, print and other advertisements to ensure the public has the information it needs.” It comes as the Sunday Mirror reported Love Island stars Shaughna Phillips, Chris Hughes and Josh Denzel were among those paid by the Cabinet Office