Free Speech Watchdog Says Conspiracy Guide for MPs Is ‘Flawed’

A free speech group has urged the leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt to withdraw her endorsement of a guide to conspiracy theories for MPs On Friday, The Free Speech Union called published guidance instructing politicians on how to spot and combat “conspiracy theories” flawed. Last month, Ms. Mordaunt published guidance instructing politicians on how to spot and combat “conspiracy theories” many of which are rooted in anti-Jewish racism. Published with the charity Antisemitism Policy Trust, it highlighted what the guide characterised as their detrimental impact on “trust in democratic institutions.” ‘Proliferated’ Commissioned by Ms. Mordaunt, the report was compiled by groups including Full Fact, Tell MAMA (Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks), and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD). Ms. Mordaunt’s Labour counterpart, Lucy Powell, said the guide was a “must-read for MPs and candidates” who had “an important role in leading their communities, speaking on the national stage with clarity and truth, and against mis- and disinformation which can harm communities and our country.”...