The Culture Secretary has said that comments made by David Icke about Covid-19 on a local TV station amount to “lunatic conspiracy theories” as he urged Ofcom to take action.
Oliver Dowden told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he would be contacting the media watchdog to find out what it plans to do about his comments on London Live.
Mr Dowden said: “You are absolutely right, these are lunatic conspiracy theories and no sensible person would give them a moment’s thought.
“Clearly that station is regulated by Ofcom and I would be expecting Ofcom to take appropriate action.
“Clearly they’re independent (Ofcom), but I will be in touch with them to understand what action they are taking with respects to that.”
In the interview, conspiracy theorist Icke shared his unsubstantiated views on the causes behind the outbreak of Covid-19.
He added that mandatory vaccination for the virus would be “fascism”.
Icke said on Twitter on Wednesday night that a video of him discussing the virus, which he claimed had been viewed four million times, was “banned” from YouTube.
In the video, he reportedly said that there is a link between 5G mobile technology and coronavirus.
The theory has been discredited by experts.
Professor Brendan Wren, professor of microbial pathogenesis at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said a connection between the technology and the virus would be “both a physical and biological impossibility”.
A YouTube spokeswoman said in a statement that the platform is seeking to reduce “the spread of harmful misinformation”.
She added: “We have clear policies that prohibit videos promoting medically unsubstantiated methods to prevent the coronavirus in place of seeking medical treatment, and we quickly remove videos violating these policies when flagged to us.
“Now any content that disputes the existence or transmission of Covid-19, as described by the World Health Organisation and local health authorities is in violation of YouTube policies.”
Icke has previously been invited onto chatshows by broadcasters including the BBC and ITV to discuss some of his other conspiracy theories.
The former footballer and sports commentator’s other conspiracy theories include his claim that the world is run by reptiles and the royal family are lizards.
London Live and Ofcom have been contacted for comment.