Newspaper posted to Barrow homes branded 'nonsense'

Copies of The Light newspaper, which has been criticised for spreading conspiracy theories around the Covid pandemic, were posted to homes unsolicited.

The newspaper said computer chips had been found in Covid vaccines, claims which Cumbria's public health director described as an 'obvious hoax'.

The publication describes itself as a ‘truthpaper’ that is independently distributed across the country by volunteers.

It is edited by a man from Manchester who runs a business selling anti-vaccine T-shirts and 9/11 conspiracy merchandise, according to reports.

Darren Smith has been quoted calling the pandemic a ‘charade’ and said ‘censorship’ of these claims on online platforms had led him to start producing the newspaper.

The newspaper's front page asked 'what on Earth is in these injections?', carrying suggestions that microtechnology has been found in Covid vaccines.

The paper claims to be the 'uncensored truth'.

Furness MP Simon Fell criticised the newspaper.

He said: "This newspaper is published by a conspiracist who makes a tidy living selling t-shirts and DVDs claiming that 9/11 was a hoax, and that the pandemic was fake.

"It's nonsense and I'm sure people will see it as such." 

Colin Cox, Cumbria’s Director of Public Health, said: “This stuff is complete nonsense and there’s really not much more to say.

“I’m sure the public has more sense than to be taken in by such an obvious hoax.”

Mr Fell also slammed the newspaper when it was seen on sale in Ulverston last year.

He said: “Last time I looked there was no shortage of toilet roll anymore and people had stopped stockpiling.

“Consequently I can’t imagine the demand for this will be high.”

The front page featured an image from a Spanish research team purporting to show 'microtechnology' in the Pfizer vaccine.

But one online fact-check said there was 'no evidence' to suggest the vaccine contains graphene and the only sample used in the study is of 'unknown origin and traceability'.