“As one consultant cardiologist said to me this is the biggest crime against humanity since the holocaust” (Andrew Bridgen)
Three years since the start of the pandemic, conspiracy theories of all kinds continued. In January, MP Andrew Bridgen had the tory whip withdrawn after comparing vaccination to the holocaust. Early June, he voted against Margaret Ferrier’s 30-day Commons suspension for breaking coronavirus rules September 2020. I wondered what took so long and what about Boris and Rishi who were fined for flouting the laws they wrote? In court, The Cock alleged anti-vaxxer Geza Tarjanyi shouted ‘ridiculous conspiracy theories’ and shoulder-barged him during protests on 19th and 24th January, while northern nutters Christine Grayson and Darren Reynolds were convicted of conspiracy (in the other sense of the word) to destroy 5G masts which they said were ‘enemy infrastructure’.
Elsewhere, Tesco struck a deal with Newfoundland, launched to distribute LFT’s, to stock tests for a range of health conditions such as vitamin deficiency, the menopause and bowel cancer. All free on the NHS alongside appropriate medical advice, it smacked of a money-making conspiracy.
On a personal note, I attended a Covid Diary Research Project workshop late February. A welcome opportunity to meet other participants and share experiences, the prospect of ‘doing a work’ for 3 hours was daunting. I took advantage of living close to the venue to arrive early and speak to The Researcher and associates who gave kind reassurance. Of other attendees, The Poet was the one familiar face but there was much common ground among the group.
We perused already-published books on life under lockdown. A mixed bag, we discussed what we’d like in something similar and brain-stormed themes emerging from the pandemic. Place, politics and shopping featured highly. I mentioned I still quarantined groceries. Someone sniggered: “The virus is airborne.” “I know but I can’t shake the habit!” Flagging, I accepted a cuppa in lieu of a break and stayed for lively discussion. The Researcher noted no one had yet mentioned conspiracies.
As evidence they persisted, I cited a free rag randomly picked up in the co-op. Entitled ‘The Light’, I expected amusing evangelical Christian garbage. It was actually covid conspiracy claptrap, linking vaccines to climate change. “Say what now?” That raised a laugh.
I then observed that the real conspiracy was global capitalism, to be reproached by someone else for also airing ‘conspiracy theory’. “It’s not theory, it’s fact,” I countered, “you only have to look at land ownership – every inch is private.” The Poet interjected that he walked wherever he liked. “Yes, because they let you, but they can take that right away any time. Just look what’s happened on Dartmoor.”*
The debate threatening to totally finish off my tired brain, I was bereft of further arguments. Much later, and with a clearer head, I realised I could have expanded further on historic working class battles over the right to roam and on Marxist theory explaining how the current state of the world was actually the (inevitable) highest stage of capitalism. Relating the exchange to Phil, he informed me Neil Oliver had orated on the age-old one-world government plot. I subsequently learnt Oliver loved doing lengthy monologues on GB news to espouse his ridiculous views. And to think I used to admire him as an intelligent historian!
* 13th January 2023, the right to wild camp on Dartmoor, the last place in England where it was allowed, disappeared overnight. Arguing the right never existed in the first place, hedge fund manager and Dartmoor’s sixth-largest landowner, Alexander Darwall, won a case against the national park. A disappointed CE Kevin Bishop and Right to Roam campaign founder, the excellently-named Guy Shrubsole, planned an appeal.
The Corvus Diaries 