Thread by @PeterKGeoghegan

Britain needs to deal with how, and why, a tiny group of newspaper columnists, backbench MPs, and anonymously funded thinktanks are able to warp public debate - with disastrous consequences.

My @guardian latest on the obsession with Sweden and Covid theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

https://twitter.com/GWorldComments/status/1345718647986204672

All the talk of Sweden - like 'alternative arrangements' during Brexit - has made a real difference to what Boris Johnson has done and, crucially, not done.

In September, PM decided not act after meeting with three pro-herd immunity scientists including Sweden's Anders Tegnell

openDemocracy asked for details of Tegnell’s correspondence with PM, but was told any release could compromise the formulation of government policy....

Even today, British papers are full of arguments against more restrictions, which will almost certainly delay Johnson acting

The parallels between pandemic and post-Brexit vote lobbying are remarkably strong. Often exact same MPs, columnists and think tanks using same playbook.

I touch on this in the new updated version of my book, Democracy for Sale, out this week headofzeus.com/books/97817895…