A State of Fear: How the UK government weaponised fear during the Covid-19 pandemic - Laura Dodsworth (the first e reader .txt) 📗

make an analogy, an expert nutritionist will get fat and poorly from eating McDonald’s every day, even though they are consciously aware of the food’s nutritional make-up. We ought to take as much care with what we put into our minds as we do with our bodies.

All this is to say that the second tactic for fighting nudges is simply to avoid them – or else they will get you eventually. As the saying goes, if you hang around in a barbershop long enough, sooner or later you’re going to get a haircut.

Of course, it is important to keep well-informed, but this is achievable without being manipulated. Avoid highly-emotional or sensationalist sources of information; in particular, avoid video content as much as possible. The moving image is more attention-grabbing, emotionally engaging, and persuasive than text; it engages pre-conscious brain systems. In short, unlike reading, video doesn’t give you the breathing room required to think critically. What’s more, reading improves cognitive function – that is, books make you smarter.

3. UPLIFT

This brings us to the third and final tactic: raising your level of consciousness. There are steps you can take in life to give yourself more conscious brainpower, enabling you to make more reasoned decisions and better resist external manipulations.

Namely, reducing cognitive load will free up your rational mind to make better decisions. To avoid being manipulated by the news, for example, be sure to avoid consuming the information when you are tired, hungry, stressed, or distracted: approach it with a clear mind. Similarly, reduce decision fatigue by minimising the amount of inconsequential choices you have to make throughout the day, and avoiding being overwhelmed with information; limiting emotional overstimulation will likewise make you less prone to emotional thinking. This means cutting down your consumption of ‘dopamine hits’ throughout the day – use social media less, eat less indulgent food, watch less television, and stop watching porn. The word decadence is derived from the word decay: the more decadent you are, the less structure you have in place, and the more liable you are to be blown this way and that by external forces. As for internal distractions, obsessive thoughts and negative emotions can be cleared away by mindfulness meditation.

Ultimately, the goal is to give your brain room to think by reducing chaos in your life. To paraphrase William H. McRaven and Jordan B. Peterson – make your bed and clean your room.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am grateful to everyone who allowed me to interview them while researching this book. I can’t publicly thank the anonymous contributors, but you know who you are. I hope that everyone I interviewed feels that I have done justice to their expert contributions or personal stories.

In addition, I’d like to thank Patrick Fagan for providing an excerpt from an essay on how to combat nudge. Piers Robinson kindly helped me understand how the UK’s laws changed as a result of the war on terror. Gary Sidley was particularly helpful when I researched Chapter 7, ‘The tools of the trade’, and within that chapter I have referenced an excellent article by him. The ‘scientific advisor deeply embedded in Whitehall’ generously gave me lots of time, insight and information while treading the careful line of never revealing any official secrets. Thank you R. Whitehead for providing expert insight into public health and propaganda.

My thanks to all readers of this book in its various drafts for their time and suggestions, especially Lucy Easthope, Zoe Harcombe, Harrie Bunker-Smith, Piers Robinson, Fergus Drennan, Joanna Williams, and Francis Hoar.

REFERENCES

INTRODUCTION

1.assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/887467/25-options-for-increasing-adherence-to-social-distancing-measures-22032020.pdf

2.www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

3.www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/monthlymortalityanalysisenglandandwales/january2021

4.www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/article/government-chief-scientist-explains-lack-of-eyecatching-measures-incoronavirus-fight

5.www.kekstcnc.com/media/2793/kekstcnc_research_covid-19_opinion_tracker_wave-4.pdf

6.www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55631693

7.www.kekstcnc.com/media/2895/kekst-cnc-covid19-opiniontracker-wave-5.pdf

8.www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/uk-public-most-concernedabout-coronavirus-more-than-spain-or-italy-study-suggests

9.www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/britons-least-likely-believeeconomy-and-businesses-should-open-if-coronavirus-notfully-contained

10.www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/research/research-projects/coronavirusgovernment-response-tracker#data

11.NHS England stats to 20th January

12.Computed from Office of National Statistics data by experts at Oxford’s Centre for Evidence Based Medicine at Oxford University. Reported: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9157627/One-six-hospital-patients-caught-Covid-19-treated-illnessesfigures-show.html

13.www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8539541/200-000-people-diedelays-healthcare-report-warns.html

14.www.spectator.co.uk/article/is-the-cost-of-another-lockdowntoo-high-

CHAPTER 1: FRIGHT NIGHT

1.Operation Cygnus referred to influenza, but the planning would also translate to and be effective for coronavirus. As veteran disaster planner Lucy Easthope told me, ‘There are review documents for SARS and MERS. It is a common misapprehension that we weren’t prepared for coronavirus. The effectiveness of Operation Cygnus would be effective for either. For instance, the National Risk Register of Civil Emergencies lists coronavirus and SARS in the ‘New and emerging infectious diseases’ section. Interestingly, it notes the need for contact tracing and isolation of affected individuals but not ‘lockdown’: assets. publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211867/NationalRiskRegister2013_amended.pdf Additionally, after the SARS outbreak in Toronto, the SARS commission was published in 2007 and was known to disaster planners: www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/e_records/sars/index.html

2.www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/06/04/coronavirus-infectionsengland-wales-hit-peak-days-lockdown/

CHAPTER 2: FEAR SPREADS IN THE MEDIA LIKE AN AIRBORNE VIRUS

1.Video of people collapsing in China, Daily Mail: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7923981/Coronavirus-Disturbing-videosclaim-people-collapsing-Wuhan.html

2.www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-sciencereview/article/how-the-chinese-government-fabricates-socialmedia-posts-for-strategic-distraction-not-engaged-argument/4662DB26E2685BAF1485F14369BD137C/core-reader

3.www.propublica.org/article/how-china-built-a-twitterpropaganda-machine-then-let-it-loose-on-coronavirus

4.www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/china-covidlockdown-propaganda

5.www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51828000

6.twitter.com/HuXijin_GT/status/1238864397713305600

7.www.the-sun.com/news/378365/coronavirus-patients-weldedinto-homes-in-china-as-death-toll-spirals-to-813/

8.‘Section 11: War, Terror and Emergencies - Guidelines’ from the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines

9.www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/grimmilestone-need-glimmerhope/

10.lockdownsceptics.org/the-future-shape-of-things/

11.www.lbc.co.uk/news/matt-hancock-tells-lbc-how-filmcontagion-alerted-him-to-global-vaccine-scramble/

12.www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54598728

13.www.pressgazette.co.uk/poll-journalists-have-not-donea-goodjob-at-covid-19-briefings-majority-of-respondents-say/

14.www.pressgazette.co.uk/press-gazette-poll-shows-half-believetrust-in-journalism-has-fallen-since-covid-19-outbreak/

15.www.pressgazette.co.uk/coronavirus-public-distrust-journalistsdespite-relying-on-news-media-for-daily-updates-surveyshows/

16.order-order.com/people/piers-morgan/

17.www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54696873

18.www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/11/19/many-could-immunecovid-despite-never-having-infected-study/

19.www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-6817

20.www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/05/britons-scaredcoronavirus-infection-rest-world/

21.www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/govt-spent-184m-covidcomms-2020/1708695

22.www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0025/193075/Note-tobroadcasters-Coronavirus.pdf

23.freespeechunion.org/letter-to-ofcom-following-its-decision-tosanction-itv-and-london-live/

CHAPTER 4: FEAR IS A PAGE OF THE GOVERNMENT PLAYBOOK

1.www.bi.team/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/BIT-Behavioural-Government-Report-2018.pdf

2.www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-global-vaccine-summitclosing-remarks-4-june-2020

3.www.city-journal.org/the-politics-of-fear

4.ibid

5.academic.oup.com/ia/article/96/3/691/5813532

6.www.cato.org/blog/chance-being-murdered-or-injured-terroristattack-united-kingdom

7.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eci.13554

8.www.who.int/bulletin/online_first/BLT.20.265892.pdf (The professor behind this study published by the World Health Organisation, Dr John Ioannidis of Stanford University, assessed IFRs with age specificity which proved very accurate by the end of the year.)

9.www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzmcHAbcoqg

10.Two discussions of the evidence: 1. ‘A city-wide prevalence study of almost 10 million people in Wuhan found no evidence of asymptomatic transmission.’ - www.bmj.com/content/bmj/371/bmj.m4851.full.pdf 2. lockdownsceptics.org/has-the-evidenceof-asymptomatic-spread-of-covid-19-been-significantlyoverstated-2/

11.www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-deradicalize-israel-scovid-insurgents-before-they-incite-a-civil-war-1.9529626

12.www.thetimes.co.uk/article/uk-officials-hunt-mystery-personwho-tested-positive-for-brazilian-variant-then-vanishedxj3m6ksbp

13.assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/926410/Understanding_Cycle_Threshold__Ct__in_SARS-CoV-2_RT-PCR_.pdf

14.www.cebm.net/covid-19/infectious-positive-pcr-test-resultcovid-19/

15.www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-management-ofexposed-healthcare-workers-and-patients-in-hospital-settings/covid-19-management-of-exposed-healthcare-workers-andpatients-in-hospital-settings

16.www.theportugalnews.com/news/2020-11-27/covid-pcr-testreliability-doubtful-portugal-judges/56962

17.www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/12/05/freedom-lovingconservative-cant-wait-get-us-back-living-personal/

18.www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/feb/27/it-is-only-amatter-of-time-before-we-turn-on-the-unvaccinated

19.www.express.co.uk/news/world/1385597/Germany-Covidangela-merkel-eu-news-coronavirus-lockdown-detentioncentre-refugee-camp

20.www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8681001/People-wont-wearface-masks-likely-sociopaths-study-claims.html

21.www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5789790/

CHAPTER 5: THE BUSINESS OF FEAR AND THE UNELECTED PSYCHOCRATS

1.assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/744672/Improving_Peoples_Health_Behavioural_Strategy.pdf

2.www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-3202652/The-hidden-hand-pulling-financial-strings-secretive-governmentnudge-unit-tries-manipulate-behaviour-help-sinister.html

3.www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/MINDSPACE.pdf

4.eprints.lancs.ac.uk/id/eprint/79061/2/Nudge_final_.pdf

5.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201012/ldselect/ldsctech/179/179.pdf

6.www.itv.com/news/2020-04-27/coronavirus-related-syndromeamong-children-may-be-emerging-alert-suggests

7.www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-52373829

8.www.societi.org.uk/kawasaki-disease-covid-19/answering-yourquestions-24-may-2020/

9.www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-childrenhospitals-intensive-care-pims-b1796419.html

10.www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/01/19/children-admittedhospital-mental-health-medical-reasons-leading/

11.www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/2021/02/21/the-nudge-unit-ottawas-behavioural-science-team-investigateshow-canadians-feel-about-vaccines-public-health-and-who-totrust.html

12.www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/124400849/jacindaardern-is-a-great-communicator-but-clearly-not-everyoneslistening

13.gript.ie/look-for-ways-to-increase-insecurity-anxiety-anduncertainty-zero-covid-document/

14.www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/plus225868061/Corona-Politik-Wie-das-Innenministerium-Wissenschaftler-einspannte.html

15.uncommongroundmedia.com/clap-for-carers-a-show-ofsolidarity-or-sinister-submission/

16.www.bighospitality.co.uk/Article/2020/09/21/No-evidencehospitality-responsible-for-Coronavirus-transmission-spike

17.www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/21/england-to-enterstronger-three-tier-system-after-lockdown

18.assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/944823/Analysis_of_the_health_economic_and_social_effects_of_COVID-19_and_the_approach_to_tiering_FINAL_-_accessible_v2.pdf

19.www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nudge-unit-davidhalpern-brexit-a8293061.html

20.www.tni.org/en/article/going-global-the-uk-governments-cveagenda-counter-radicalisation-and-covert-propaganda

21.webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20200203104056/gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/news/alex-aiken-introduces-the-rapidresponse-unit/

22.www.gov.uk/government/news/government-cracks-down-onspread-of-false-coronavirus-information-online

23.www.thetimes.co.uk/article/gchq-in-cyberwar-on-anti-vaccinepropaganda-mcjgjhmb2

24.www.middleeasteye.net/news/twitter-executive-also-part-timeofficer-uk-army-psychological-warfare-unit

25.www.gov.uk/government/groups/independent-scientificpandemic-influenza-group-on-behaviours-spi-b

CHAPTER 6: THE SPI-B ADVISORS

1.www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54421489

2.www.nas.org/reports/the-irreproducibility-crisis-of-modernscience/full-report#ImplicationsforPolicymaking

3.www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/03/25/two-thirds-patients-diecoronavirus-would-have-died-year-anyway/

4.www.gov.uk/government/publications/role-of-communitychampions-networks-to-increase-engagement-in-context-ofcovid-19-evidence-and-best-practice-22-october-2020

5.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Michie

6.assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/948607/s0995-mitigations-toreduce-transmission-of-the-new-variant.pdf

CHAPTER 7: THE TOOLS OF THE TRADE

1.www.theguardian.com/culture/2017/sep/04/how-we-made-dont-die-of-ignorance-aids-campaign

2.www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-9183957/NHS-workerswatching-Sin-recall-horrifying-ignorance-faced-AIDS-patients-80s.html

3.www.ft.com/content/38a81588-6508-11ea-b3f3-fe4680ea68b5

4.www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-address-to-the-nationon-coronavirus-23-march-2020

5.www.bi.team/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/MINDSPACE.pdf

6.www.theguardian.com/culture/2017/sep/04/how-we-made-dontdie-of-ignorance-aids-campaign

7.Drawn from MINDSPACE Influencing behaviour through public policy

8.www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/MINDSPACE.pdf

9.www.coronababble.com/post/how-the-mean-psychologistsinduced-us-to-comply-with-coronavirus-restrictions

10.www.ditext.com/packard/19.html

11.www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-london-55396770

12.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11228916/

13.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/2d0e5df7-cb15-434c-89a5-579c051aa8ec

14.www.spiked-online.com/2020/10/06/the-new-covid-fines-coulddestroy-your-life/

15.assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/882722/25-options-for-increasingadherence-to-social-distancing-measures-22032020.pdf

16.news.npcc.police.uk/releases/update-on-national-crime-trendsand-fixed-penalty-notices-issued-under-covid-regulations

17.www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-news-facemasks-increase-risk-infection-doctor-jenny-harries-a9396811.html

18.royalsociety.org/-/media/policy/projects/set-c/set-c-facemasks.pdf

19.www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/face-maskscould-compulsory-shops-18598438

20.www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9181135/amp/Government-funding-EIGHT-vaccine-passport-schemes-450-000.html

21.www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-uknews-professor-chris-whitty-no-masks-advice-a9374086.html

22.www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRa6t_e7dgI

23.apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/337199/WHO-2019-nCov-IPC_Masks-2020.5-eng.pdf

24.www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/covid-19-face-masks-community-first-update.pdf

25.www.independent.co.uk/news/health/face-masks-coronavirusdeath-rate-covid-matt-hancock-today-a9618306.html

26.www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-towear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-whento-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own

27.www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-6817

28.unherd.com/2021/01/inside-the-covid-ward/

29.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-53498100

30.www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1261340/coronavirus-uk-hospitalbeds-covid19-uk-number-latest-nhs-response

31.www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9157627/One-six-hospitalpatients-caught-Covid-19-treated-illnesses-figures-show.html

32.www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1388277/coronavirus-latestscientists-government-deadly-strain

33.www.parliament.uk/business/news/2020/february/statement-on-wuhan-coronavirus/

34.www.asa.org.uk/type/non_broadcast/code_section/04.html

35.twitter.com/CllrEjiofor/status/1338903582855278593

36.www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/01/21/government-discontinuecovid-ad-accusing-joggers-exercising

37.Government Communication Survey 19th-21st March 2021 conducted by Yonder for the Recovery Campaign

CHAPTER 8: CONTROLLED SPONTANEITY AND PROPAGANDA

1.www.middleeasteye.net/news/mind-control-secret-britishgovernment-blueprints-shaping-post-terror-planning

2.www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/may/24/emergency-planner-manchester-heal-terror-hurts

3.twitter.com/adilray/status/1353677950550495243

4.assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/952716/s0979-factors-influencingvaccine-uptake-minority-ethnic-groups.pdf

5.ibid

6.inews.co.uk/news/faith-leaders-vaccine-mistrust-blackminority-ethnic-hesitancy-safe-842317

7.assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/933231/S0830_SPI-B_-_Community_Champions_evidence_and_best_practice.pdf

8.www.gov.uk/government/news/community-champions-to-givecovid-19-vaccine-advice-and-boost-take-up

9.Optimizing vaccination roll out: dos and don’ts for all messaging, documents and ‘communications’ in the widest sense, published by the NHS in December 2020. Since removed from the internet.

10.www.timesofisrael.com/israel-sees-60-drop-in-hospitalizationsfor-over-60s-in-weeks-after-vaccination/

11.www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-adverse-reactions/coronavirus-vaccine-summary-ofyellow-card-reporting

12.fullfact.org/online/foetal-cells-covid-vaccine/

13.blogs.bmj.com/medical-ethics/2020/11/23/the-covid-19-vaccineinformed-consent-and-the-recruitment-of-volunteers/

CHAPTER 10: THE METRICS OF FEAR

1.www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/05/britons-scaredcoronavirus-infection-rest-world/

2.www.kekstcnc.com/media/2793/kekstcnc_research_covid-19_opinion_tracker_wave-4.pdf

3.www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.09.15.20191957v1.full.pdf

4.www.spectator.co.uk/article/treasury-reveals-it-didn-t-forecasteconomic-impact-of-second-lockdown

5.coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/healthcare

6.www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9157627/One-six-hospitalpatients-caught-Covid-19-treated-illnesses-figures-show.html

7.civitas.org.uk/publications/what-price-lockdown/

8.www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2020/05/16/neil-fergusonsimperial-model-could-devastating-software-mistake/

9.www.statnews.com/2020/03/17/a-fiasco-in-the-making-as-thecoronavirus-pandemic-takes-hold-we-are-making-decisionswithout-reliable-data/

10.www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3563

11.www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(05)73948-9/fulltext

12.lockdownsceptics.org/the-real-fault-with-epidemiologicalmodels/

13.www.pure.ed.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/14288330/Use_and_abuse_of_mathematical_models_an_illustration_from_the_2001_foot_and_mouth_disease_epidemic_in_the_United_Kingdom.pdf

14.www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1388099/lockdown-end-date-uklockdown-rules-covid-news-2021-rules-when-will-lockdownend

15.www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/04/06/government-modelswarning-third-wave-based-flawed-figures-telegraph/

16.twitter.com/SadiqKhan/status/1284035605203226625

17.cdn.doctorsonly.co.il/2020/03/COVID-19-Webcast-agenda-March28IL.pdf

18.apnews.com/article/8795470456

19.www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-management-ofexposed-healthcare-workers-and-patients-in-hospital-settings/covid-19-management-of-exposed-healthcare-workers-andpatients-in-hospital-settings

20.www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55470496

21.www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/21/coronavirusbritain-vallance-whitty-fear-data-alarm

22.www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/01/13/uk-records-highest-reported-coronavirus-deaths-figure-of1564/

23.www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/01/18/analysis-second-wavenothing-like-first/

24.www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9363137/Official-charts-laybare-impact-Covid-crisis.html

25.www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/covid-caused-more-deathsyear-23722724

26.ibid

27.lockdownsceptics.org/2021/03/16/is-covid-the-worst-infectiousdisease-in-a-century/

28.www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-directorgeneral-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---16-march-2020

29.www.who.int/news/item/19-01-2021-who-information-noticefor-ivd-users-2021-01

30.www.theportugalnews.com/news/2020-11-27/covid-pcr-testreliability-doubtful-portugal-judges/56962

31.www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-vaccinelatest-cases-covid-19-patrick-vallance-b1159462.html

CHAPTER 11: COUNTING THE DEAD

1.www.themdu.com/guidance-and-advice/latest-updates-andadvice/certifying-deaths-during-covid-19-outbreak

2.www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/weeklyprovisionalfiguresondeathsregisteredinenglandandwales

3.tinyurl.com/463ueh37

4.Summary of report in The Daily Mail: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9203279/Government-estimates-220-000-true-death-tollpandemic.html

5.https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/static-reports/mortality-surveillance/excess-mortality-in-england-week-ending-01-Jan-2021.html

6.www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/causesofdeath/articles/leadingcausesofdeathuk/2001to2018

7.documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=51861

8.www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/dtac/srb_sept2015.pdf

CHAPTER 12: THE ILLUSION OF CONTROL

1.www.itv.com/news/2021-02-17/no-covid-19-outbreaks-havebeen-linked-to-crowded-beaches-mps-told

2.coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/deaths

3.www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55382861

4.www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandwellbeing/bulletins/coronavirusandthesocialimpactsongreatbritain/8january2021

5.www.bbc.co.uk/news/55669736

6.news.sky.com/story/covid-19-in-tier-4-everybody-needs-tobehave-as-if-they-already-have-coronavirus-matt-hancocksays-12168124

CHAPTER 13: THE CLIMATE OF FEAR

1.Scapegoat Rituals in Ancient Greece, by Jan Bremmer

2.www.conservativehome.com/podcast/the-moggcast-episodefifty-three-tuesday-26th-january-2021

3.documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=51861

4.twitter.com/ClareCraigPath/status/1352516332995162112

5.www.covidfaq.co

6.www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022103120304248

7.www.bi.team/blogs/policy-tribes-how-allegiances-can-harmpolicy-making/

8.www.cnbc.com/2020/09/02/study-refusal-to-wear-face-maskassociated-with-psychopathy-traits.html

9.www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-is-youtube-so-afraid-of-freespeech-

10.www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/m20-6817

11.gbdeclaration.org

12.www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/01/false-hopepandemic-dangerous-disinformation

13.www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/29/rival-scientists-lockdowns-scientific-covid-19

14.assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/961210/S1056_Contribution_of_nosocomial_infections_to_the_first_wave.pdf

15.www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9157627/One-six-hospitalpatients-caught-Covid-19-treated-illnesses-figures-show.html

16.www.thesun.co.uk/news/uknews/13636531/labour-leader-sirkeir-starmer-demands-full-national-lockdown/

17.‘Exclusive: Reviews of hospital-acquired covid deaths as ‘basic’ breaches found’, HSJ, 24th February 2021

CHAPTER 14: CULTS, CONSPIRACY AND PSYCHIC EPIDEMICS

1.hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/2020/07/peter-hitchens-weveall-turned-from-normal-humans-into-muzzled-masochists.html

2.www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/03/14/one-year-coronaviruslockdown-did-boris-johnson-take-long-tell/

3.www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-origin-wuhan-whoinvestigation-china-b1802081.html

4.inequality.org/great-divide/updates-billionaire-pandemic/

5.www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/10/the-rich-got-richer-duringthe-pandemic-and-that-s-a-daunting-sign-for-our-recovery/

6.www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_755875/lang--en/index.htm

7.www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/10/07/covid-19-to-add-as-many-as-150-million-extreme-poor-by-2021

8.www.reuters.com/article/sweden-economy/swedish-govtsees-milder-downturn-in-2020-slower-growth-next-yearidINKBN28Q1VZ

9.www.civitas.org.uk/publications/what-price-lockdown/

10.www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.11.20062133v1

11.www.weforum.org/great-reset/

12.www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/06/now-is-the-time-for-a-greatreset/

13.www.forbes.com/sites/worldeconomicforum/2016/11/10/ shopping-i-cant-really-remember-what-that-is-or-howdifferently-well-live-in-2030/

14.www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4716

15.www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n556

16.www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n511

17.www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.13.20101253v3

CHAPTER 15: TYRANNY

1.assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/944823/Analysis_of_the_health_economic_and_social_effects_of_COVID-19_and_the_approach_to_tiering_FINAL_-_accessible_v2.pdf

2.metro.co.uk/2021/02/25/every-single-prosecution-under-thecoronavirus-act-has-been-unlawful-14143868/

3.www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-55034697

4.www.crowdjustice.com/case/lockdownlegalchallenge/

5.ukhumanrightsblog.com/2020/04/21/a-disproportionateinterference-the-coronavirus-regulations-and-the-echr-francishoar/

CHAPTER 16: TERRIFYING IMPACTS

1.assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/957265/s0980-direct-indirectimpacts-covid-19-excess-deaths-morbidity-sage-decemberupdate-final.pdf

2.www.alzheimers.org.uk/news/2020-06-05/ons-report-shows-52-increase-excess-deaths-people-dying-dementia-alzheimerssociety

3.www.spectator.co.uk/article/is-the-cost-of-another-lockdowntoo-high-

4.www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/

articles/coronavirusanddepressioninadultsgreatbritain/june2020

5.Government Communication Survey 19th–21st March 2021 conducted by Yonder for the Recovery Campaign

6.www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/articles/coronavirusanddepressioninadultsgreatbritain/june2020

7.www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/news/coronavirus-report

8.ibid

9.www.standard.co.uk/news/health/covid-pandemic-devastatingtoll-young-people-mental-wellbeing-b900229.html

10.www.theguardian.com/society/2020/dec/27/covid-posesgreatest-threat-to-mental-health-since-second-world-war

11.bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/11/e044276

12.www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n317

13.civitas.org.uk/content/files/The-cost-of-the-cure-30-November. pdf

14.www.itv.com/news/2021-01-28/increase-in-suicide-related-callsat-half-of-englands-ambulance-services-over-lockdown

15.jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40337-020-00319-y

16.www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(20)30530-7/fulltext

17.www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/news/10-million-peopleengland-may-need-support-their-mental-health-resultpandemic-says-centre-mental-health

18.www.kcl.ac.uk/policy-institute/assets/How-the-UK-is-sleepingunder-lockdown.pdf

19.www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199108293250903

20.www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8846695/Nearly-27MILLIONGP-appointments-England-lost-Covid-19-pandemic.html

21.ibid

22.www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-53300784

23.www.theguardian.com/society/2020/nov/08/tens-thousandshomeless-despite-uk-ban-evictions-covid-pandemic

24.centrepoint.org.uk/about-us/blog/locked-out-youthhomelessness-during-and-beyond-the-covid-19-pandemic/

25.pesquisa.bvsalud.org/global-literature-on-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov/resource/en/covidwho-728827

26.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5801/cmselect/cmhaff/321/32102.htm

27.www.nelsonslaw.co.uk/panorama-domestic-abuse-lockdown/

28.www.stepchange.org/policy-and-research/debt-research/coviddebt-2020.aspx

29.www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/02/12/economy-shrinks-99pc-record-annual-contraction/

CHAPTER 17: WHY FEAR SHOULD NOT BE WEAPONISED

1.www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1361287/

2.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/2d0e5df7-cb15-434c-89a5-579c051aa8ec

3.www.bps.org.uk/sites/bps.org.uk/files/Policy%20-%20Files/BPS%20Code%20of%20Ethics%20and%20Conduct%20%28Updated%20July%202018%29.pdf

4.www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9395215/Chris-Whittyadmits-Government-knew-lockdown-severe-effects-health.html

5.www.thedatapsychologist.com/post/crude-and-unethicalwhy-boris-johnson-was-wrong-to-try-and-terrify-us-intosubmission

6.www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-56417014

7.www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/news/10-million-peopleengland-may-need-support-their-mental-health-resultpandemic-says-centre-mental-health

8.journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2378023120969339

9.emergency.cdc.gov/coping/selfcare.asp

10.www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9231773/Ex-MP-NORMANBAKER-reveals-day-anthrax-released-tunnel-Northern-Line.html

CHAPTER 18: HAPPY ENDINGS ARE NOT WRITTEN IN THE LANGUAGE OF COERCIVE CONTROL

1.Optimizing vaccination roll out: dos and don’ts for all messaging, documents and ‘communications’ in