Government X Exit
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and DCMS Quit X Over Misinformation
Key Points
Nandy said leaving X 'has made me a healthier person' after previously taking a temporary break from the platform.
The Labour policy push includes an Australia-style ban for under-16s on social media, which Starmer said would go ahead despite ongoing debates.
Under the government's Green Paper 'Watch This Space: A Strategic Direction For UK Media', the plan would require platforms to prioritise content from publishers such as the BBC and ITV.
Nandy posted the departure on X and told followers to connect on other platforms, including Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn with the handle @LisaNandyMP.
The public statement announcing the move was made on July 2, 2025, aligning with simultaneous actions by other government bodies.
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announced on July 2, 2025 that she is leaving X, saying the platform "favours abuse and misinformation over meaningful debate." Her department, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), will also stop using the site, according to BBC.
Nandy said leaving X "has made me a healthier person." She told her followers to find her on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn under the handle @LisaNandyMP. The move makes DCMS the second UK government department to quit X, after the Attorney General's Office did so earlier, BBC reported.
Nandy Says X Is Bad for Democracy
Nandy did not hold back in her criticism of the platform. She said X "isn't healthy for our democracy" and that it no longer supports meaningful public debate. She made the announcement on X itself before leaving, directing followers to other platforms, according to The Guardian.
DCMS will now focus its social media activity elsewhere. The department said X has shifted toward rewarding abuse and spreading false information rather than open, honest discussion. Nandy had previously taken a temporary break from the platform before deciding to quit for good, Head Topics noted.
Second Government Department to Walk Away From X
The Attorney General's Office was the first UK government department to ban X. DCMS is now the second. Officials say this reflects growing worry inside government about the state of online debate and the spread of harmful content on the platform, according to BBC.
Nandy has been vocal about tech firms failing to do enough to stop abuse and misinformation. Her decision to leave X ties directly to that criticism. It also sends a signal to other departments about how the government views the platform under Elon Musk's ownership, The Guardian reported.
Labour Pushes Wider Social Media Crackdown
The departure from X fits into a broader Labour push to tighten rules around social media. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has backed an Australia-style ban on social media for children under 16. Starmer said the ban would go ahead despite ongoing debate about the details, according to Head Topics.
The government's Green Paper, titled "Watch This Space: A Strategic Direction For UK Media," goes further. It would require platforms to give priority to content from trusted publishers like the BBC and ITV. The plan is part of a wider effort to reshape how online platforms operate in the UK, The Guardian reported.
What Comes Next for Government Social Media Use
For now, Nandy will stay active on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. DCMS has not said which platforms it will use going forward. But the move raises questions about whether more UK government departments will follow and cut ties with X, according to BBC.
The decision adds to pressure on X and Elon Musk from European governments. Online safety and content moderation have become major political issues in the UK. Nandy's exit from X is the latest and most high-profile sign that the Labour government is willing to act on those concerns, Head Topics noted.
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