Nearly 30% think China likely to have spread Covid on purpose, UK poll finds

Report warns that rise in support for conspiracy theories is fuelling recruitment for far right

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More than a quarter of people believe Covid-19 was likely to have been a biological weapon intentionally spread by the Chinese state, according to a new UK poll highlighting the spread of conspiracy theories.

The findings are contained in a major report by the campaign group Hope Not Hate (HNH) warning that the rise of Covid conspiracy theories and the antilockdown movement are recruiting young people to far-right ideas and movements.