The Discredited Conspiracy Theories Believed by Millions of Brits

Exclusive poll finds that conspiracy theories linked to Russian disinformation about Covid and the Ukraine War, are believed by significant numbers of British people

Photo: Sinai Noor / Alamy

In this week’s Bienkov Briefing:

• POLL FINDS MILLIONS OF BRITS BELIEVE IN CONSPIRACY THEORIES

• FOUR-IN-TEN BELIEVE AT LEAST ONE DISCREDITED THEORY

• THEORIES PUSHED BY RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGNS

• POLL FINDS WIDESPREAD FOLLOWING OF ‘ALTERNATIVE’ BELIEFS

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Four-in-ten British people believe at least one discredited conspiracy theory, according to an exclusive poll commissioned by the Byline Supplement.

The findings, by pollsters Omnisis, suggest that millions of Brits believe in entirely debunked ideas, such as the theory that Covid was a hoax, the Ukraine War is fake, and the 9/11 attacks were staged.

Asked to pick which, if any, of a list of common theories they believe in, 37% picked at least one.

The theory that the Covid pandemic was a hoax, which has been linked to Russian disinformation campaigns, is believed by one-in-ten (11%) of voters, according to the poll.

Meanwhile 12% of voters believe the 9/11 attacks were staged, while eight per cent believe in the theory that a secretive international elite are conspiring to create an international government, known as the New World Order.

Other less popular theories, such as the idea that the Ukraine War is fake and that malign forces are deliberately spraying the population with dangerous chemicals via ‘chemtrails’ emitted from planes, are believed by just four per cent of the population. The ‘QAnon’ theory spread by the US far right, does not appear to have caught on in the UK, with just two per cent of Brits saying they believe it.

More longstanding conspiracy theories, such as the idea that the moon landings were staged (believed by 9% of Brits), and that the existence of extraterrestrial UFOs have been covered up by the Government (19%) are still widely believed by British people. However, the theory that the Earth is really flat, is still believed by just three per cent of voters.

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Alternative Beliefs

Voters were also asked about their religious and spiritual beliefs, with the findings suggesting widespread belief in so-called ‘alternative’ belief systems.