On the Today programme this week, Theo Bertram of the Social Market Foundation appeared to discuss his think tank’s commentary, ‘Deep Fakerfield’, on misinformation spread during the Makerfield by-election. He listed some false stories circulating on social media: that Andy Burnham’s wife owns an EV company, that Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, attended a violent pro-Palestinian march – and that Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, wants to ban tumble dryers. Bertram said this last one ‘may sound funny, but widely seems to be believed’.

If Miliband’s regulations make the tumble dryers most people own unavailable to buy, it’s understandable........

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