In recent weeks there have been a series of rallies across the country at which various conspiracy theorists have offered their view of events. Some say the pandemic is a hoax, some that it is caused by 5G; others argue that it has been deliberately engineered by a cabal of the likes of Bill Gates and Lord Rothschild.

That last name is inevitable — no conspiracy theory is complete without supposed Jewish involvement, and it is usually a Rothschild. But natural as it is that anti-vaxxers, coronavirus conspiracists and antisemites should come together — they all sign up to variations on the same theme — it is also dangerous.

Lord Mann’s report this week analysed 27 leading anti-vaxxer social media platforms and found antisemitic content in 79 per cent of the networks.

These may indeed be the deluded online ramblings of a bunch of oddballs. But they have an impact in the real world, far beyond the rallies.

Otherwise sensible parents, for example, are denying their children the MMR vaccine on the basis of such lies. And in a poll this summer just 53 per cent of Brits said they would agree to be vaccinated against Covid-19 should one be made available.

The spread of online conspiracies is ridiculous. But it is also very real, and we need a serious and urgent response to counter the lies.

Some good news

This week saw the latest agreements between Israel and the UAE. Such has been the feeling of normality with which relations between the two nations have been developing — not forgetting Bahrain — it is easy to forget that the first moves were as recent as August. Which is a welcome reminder that, just as calamitous events can change the world in a trice, so too can positive changes.