You’ve got to be desperate when you go to these lengths … ‘The lady doth protest too much, me thinks.’ – Hamlet

May 14, 2024 covid19

Executive Summary

Conspiracy theories are as old as time. However, in recent years, with the rise of social media and global events including the Covid-19 pandemic, conspiracy theories are posing distinct challenges to democracies and democratic elections. This risk is not only of conspiracy theories targeting governments and populations but also the active support and proliferation of conspiracy theories by government or other public officials. This guide has been produced to inform Members of Parliament and parliamentary candidates

in the UK about the risks of conspiracy theories, and to try and draw out some key themes in order that you can be prepared to quickly assess and understand new conspiracy theories as they emerge. In this guide, we outline what conspiracy theories are, their appeal, and an overview of eight prominent conspiracies in the United Kingdom.