Hunstanton Town Council being ‘targeted’ by publishers of The Light newspaper

“We have been targeted by this chap. That confirms it.”

Those were the words of Hunstanton mayor Michael Ruston at last Wednesday’s full town council meeting, which had been informed about a “far-right” magazine being circulated in the area.

Cllr Robert Corby had raised the issue early in the evening, saying that The Light – a controversial self-published newspaper – had wound up on his doorstep in recent weeks.

He described it as “incredibly dangerous”, and told the meeting it contained “extremely racist comments” and right-wing ideas.

He suggested the magazine may breach the Public Order Act, and suggested councillors report its contents to the police.

“I was actually shocked by what is in there,” Cllr Corby said.

A number of councillors subsequently said they had received the newspaper at their homes as well, and deemed it likely that its creator was gathering their addresses from the town council’s website.

This theory was backed up by the fact that former town council leader Tony Bishopp, who was only co-opted to the council during this meeting, was contacted too – as his contact details are still listed on the website.

Cllr Bishopp, at the time speaking as a member of the public, said it was delivered to him by an individual driving a red car.

He said: “I caught him at the door and said, ‘Why are you sending me this rubbish?’

“He said ‘because you are a councillor’.

“It is disgusting, what is in there. He said councillors have to have all sides of the story.”

This prompted Cllr Ruston to say: “We have been targeted by this chap. That confirms it.”

The Light newspaper has been circulated throughout Norfolk before, with residents in Norwich previously reporting having it delivered.

It is often described as a monthly conspiracy theory newspaper, and was founded by Darren Nesbitt in 2020.

The paper has been criticised for allegedly spreading Anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, holocaust denial and death threats.