Majority of Brummies' admit they believe in conspiracy theories

Over half (51%) of people from Birmingham believe in conspiracy theories such as aliens are being hidden at Area 51, and the world is flat, and climate change isn’t real according to new research.

The most believed conspiracy theory amongst Brummies’ is that Lee Harvey Oswald did not work alone in the assassination of JFK back in November 1963 in Dallas, Texas – nearly one in five (20%) think this one is true.

Hitting slightly closer to home, the second most believed theory in Birmingham is that the death of Princess Diana in 1997 was no accident and that the UK Government orchestrated the whole thing, even though it happened in Paris, France. One in six (17%) locals are convinced this one is true.

A similar number (16%) think the 1969 moon landings were, in fact, faked.

Just 1.5% think Michael Jackson is still alive though.

The findings come from a survey by MrQ, who analysed TikTok data and then polled 2,000 people to find just how deep into the world of conspiracies Brits have fallen.

Across the nation, nearly half (48%) admitted they think at least one conspiracy theory is true, meaning Brummies’ are slightly more likely than most invest belief in these.

Men are more likely than women to be conspiracists (52% vs. 48%), as are those aged 18-24 (62%).

Like in Birmingham, the theory the most Brits admitted to believing is around Lee Harvey Oswald.

On of the weirdest theories comes from so-called “flat earthers”. These are a group of people who strongly believe the Earth is flat, even going so far as to say gravity and space don’t exist and the planet is surrounded by an ice wall (like in Game of Thrones…) to stop us from falling off.

With a theory this farfetched you’d be forgiven for thinking nobody could possibly believe it, however three in every 100 Brits (3%) do.

The conspiracy theories Brits are most likely to believe:

• Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone in killing JFK (15%)

• The British authorities had a hand in the death of Princess Diana (13%)

• The moon landing was fake (12%)

• Humans have made contact with aliens, and this is being hidden from the public (10%

• Area 51 is home to lots of aliens (7%)

• The cost-of-living crisis is a government plot to control the public (6.5%)

• Some bands and musicians deliver subliminal messages in their songs (6%)

• The Illuminati controls everything (5.5%)

• Climate change isn't real (5%)

• The Government is releasing toxic chemicals into the atmosphere that leave visible plumes (chemtrails) (4%)

With millions being strapped for cash, more than one in twenty (6.5%) people also believe the cost-of-living crisis is simply a plot from the government to control us.

‘Control’ in general is a popular topic in the theories that have gained traction.

Musicians are secretly controlling us through music (6%), the Government is controlling us through chemtrails (3.5%) and the Illuminati controls pretty much everything (5.5%) are all theories believed by a worrying number of people.

One of the most popular conspiracy theories on TikTok details how a reptilian and shapeshifting humanoid species exists among us, with A-List celebs and world leaders - including the Queen and King Charles - all apparently being part of this race.

TikTok hashtag data found a staggering 54,600 videos all detailing how the lizard race has infiltrated our world, including so-called “evidence” that certain celebrities and members of the Royal Family are in fact reptiles.

Rosie Maskell, Senior Marketing Executive at MrQ said: “Delving into the world of conspiracy theories is certainly an eye-opener. While some could almost be feasible if you spend enough time with the research, others are so obscure you wonder who came up with the theory in the first place.

“One video we found claimed Area 51 was in fact a portal to another dimension, while another shows ‘evidence’ that Elvis was a shapeshifting lizard. Of course, most of us will dismiss a lot of these theories, but who knows… the truth is out there!”