Every leak springs a thousand conspiracy theories

Most leaks of secret documents are not part of some clever plan to manipulate public opinion

The publication last weekend of the Yellowhammer report on the possible effects of a no-deal Brexit provoked a lot of theories about who leaked it and why. The speculation was started by a Downing Street source who tried to dismiss the story by telling some journalists: “It has been deliberately leaked by a former minister in an attempt to influence discussions with EU leaders.”

That claim was undermined when it was confirmed that the document was dated 1 August, eight days after Theresa May’s ministers resigned.

Meanwhile, it was suggested by some observers that the report had been leaked by the government to prepare the public, who would be relieved when a no-deal Brexit wasn’t as bad as they expected.