Well you would say that: the science behind our everyday biases

Covid has turned us into pandemic experts, all too ready to gainsay scientists and distorting our reasoning, but psychology can help us understand how our prejudices are formed

As I wasted an hour's worth of petrol trying to find more petrol last month, Justin Webb poked at the chief secretary to the Treasury, Simon Clarke, on the Today programme, seeking a reason why much of the country is running on fumes and why HGV drivers are currently more elusive than dark matter. Clarke explained that the problem is driven in part by workforce demographics" - no doubt - and is worsened by Covid restrictions". Agreed. And worsened by Brexit," Webb helpfully chipped in. That's just a fact."

But no, Clarke was having none of it. Well, no. It's not a fact."