The Canary, a leftwing news site, has announced its indefinite closure following what it describes as a "vicious campaign" against it. Founded in 2015 during the rise of support for former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, the outlet has faced significant challenges, including financial difficulties and allegations of internal strife.
Closure Announcement
In a social media post, the Canary stated it would be closing "for the foreseeable future" due to the impact of "malicious lies" propagated by former employees. The outlet claimed these allegations were part of "multiple attacks" that rendered its situation "unsustainable, both financially and operationally".
“"After 11 years, we take this action with deep sadness and regret. The extent of the lies, defamation, and harassment by ex-staff – coupled with the constant attacks by the state and those who’d see us destroyed – has become too much," the Canary stated.
Financial Struggles
The Canary has struggled with paying its staff and contractors, primarily due to Lloyds Bank blocking access to a substantial amount of its funds earlier this year. Despite receiving over £2 million in additional funding during the summer, some journalists alleged that this money was mismanaged, being spent on projects like a short-lived newspaper and the acquisition of other websites.
