A State of Fear: How the UK government weaponised fear during the Covid-19 pandemic, Laura Dodsworth [the two towers ebook .txt] 📗

This government radio advertisement was withdrawn after complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority as the claims were misleading and could not be substantiated.36 However, no apology or correction was ever issued. Many millions of people might still think these false claims are true and be unnecessarily frightened or concerned.

Santa lies unconscious in hospital, surrounded by NHS staff. He is saved, thereby Christmas itself is saved, and he rewards a nurse with a surprise Christmas present.

The Santa ad created for NHS Charities was incredibly divisive. Some people found it moving, while others felt it was insensitive and would disturb children. Surely it’s misleading, as Santa is magical and therefore can’t get ill or die? Hmm. Anyway, it was withdrawn to avoid further controversy.

‘Don’t let a coffee cost lives’

Hyperbole on a double-shot of caffeine. Meeting a friend for a walk with a takeaway coffee has never been illegal and has been some people’s lifeline during long lockdowns. This advertisement could have frightened and deterred people from a helpful act of socialisation. The exaggeration might not help engender long-term trust in the government.

‘Look him in the eyes

And tell him you always keep a safe distance’

‘Look her in the eyes

And tell her you never bend the rules’

‘Look him in the eyes

And tell him the risk isn’t real’

A poster, print and broadcast campaign shows people wearing oxygen masks looking straight into camera. The tight close-up and the eye contact are designed to take you straight into their predicament. The grainy processing is evocative of horror, like an upscale Blair Witch Project. This campaign didn’t just leverage fear, but also guilt and shame, pitting the sick against the ‘perpetrator’. ‘Othering’ the offensive disease-spreaders could create ill-will and conflict. And maybe it was no one’s fault. Maybe he got Covid while in hospital for a hernia operation. Maybe she caught Covid while working in a care home.

Grassroots campaigners against lockdown, Recovery, commissioned an independent poll from market research company Yonder and found that 15% of respondents reported depression, anxiety, or fear as a direct result of government pandemic advertising.37 A further 7% reported that the advertising has made an existing mental health condition worse: that’s almost 12 million people around the country whose mental health has been damaged by an unprecedented government advertising campaign designed to create fear. And 3% said that the advertising has brought on an entirely new mental health condition requiring treatment.

ANONYMOUS

I have several disabilities, physical and psychological. I am unable to wear a face mask because I have PTSD from sexual trauma as a young teen. I’m sorry for TMI but it’s relevant. I was raped and penetrated in my mouth too. Due to this, nothing can cover my mouth, it’s an instant panic attack.

I had to attend the minor injuries unit at hospital yesterday. When I approached the desk to book in, I was instantly ordered to put on a mask. One was offered to me, and I replied I was unable to do so due to a mental health condition. The receptionist fetched a nurse who asked why I was refusing to wear one and said that if I did not, then I would be removed from the unit. This area is very open and very public, with other patients being seen at the side of me. I asked for a private area, and this was refused. I was also wearing a sunflower lanyard.

I was becoming extremely anxious at this point and explained that I have PTSD. They wanted details. I was essentially railroaded into detailing what happened as a teen. I was told to wait and then taken into a room with a doctor and another nurse. I again had to explain in detail my PTSD. I was then offered a visor type mask which I found very claustrophobic and in all honesty unbearable, but was left in no doubt non-compliance would lead to my being asked to leave.

I was then triaged, assessed and treated. In total I explained everything three times. I had an hour-long major panic attack in the car afterwards. I had two more overnight. Since then I have been very on edge and I can’t sleep.

8. CONTROLLED SPONTANEITY AND PROPAGANDA

‘Controlled religious and political ceremonies are welcomed, however, by those in authority, since they provide ‘opportunities for planting suggestions in minds which have momentarily ceased to be capable of reason or free will.’

From Battle for the Mind, William Sargant

If you liked me thus far, this might be the point at which you change your mind, because this is when I admit I didn’t like Clap for Carers. The nationwide sensation left me cold. It’s not that I’m naturally curmudgeonly, but something about the weekly ritual felt performative, forced and, well, a bit Stalinist. I appreciated the NHS but it didn’t feel authentic for me to demonstrate that in the streets on Thursday evenings. I skulked indoors for the first one, but on the second Thursday night I found myself outside, watering my hanging basket, as the entire street stepped outside at 8pm and started clapping, cheering and banging pots and pans. It felt impossible to do anything except slap my watering can with my free hand and sheepishly beam at the neighbours. Yes, I was in thrall to ‘norms’ and maybe a bit of ‘ego’.

If I’m honest, it actually felt quite nice to be joining with my neighbours in a collective act of appreciation. I didn’t do it again because, for me, it was reminiscent of the innocent animals performing ‘Beasts of Britain’ in Animal Farm by George Orwell, or perhaps the conch in Lord of the Flies by William Golding – it felt like a ritual designed to give people a sense of purpose and unity. The underlying feeling of obligation created by the intense media coverage of the clap felt pressured and concerned me.

Extending the Animal Farm metaphor, it seemed to me that the NHS was playing the part