Many Europeans Want to End Daylight Saving Time

As clocks move forward each spring across the northern hemisphere, debates over daylight saving time continue in several Western European countries. YouGov's Eurotrack survey asked people in Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden whether their country should stop switching clocks twice a year. Responses vary widely: 75% of Germans want to end the practice, while Italy is the only country where a majority (56%) prefers to keep changing the clocks. Britain and Spain were narrowly divided on the question.

The poll also asked which permanent time people would choose if the practice ended. Most respondents who want to stop switching favored staying on 'summer time' — longer evening daylight — rather than returning to standard 'winter time.' That preference was common across the seven countries, although Sweden was an exception: 58% of Swedes supported ending daylight saving time but tended to prefer permanent 'winter time.' Denmark (56%) and France (49%) leaned toward ending the clocks, while Spain (46%) and Britain (45%) remained split.

Who did it? And what's their angle?

Every conspiracy theory pins one culprit and one motive on the same story. The same story can spawn any number of theories — different culprits, different motives. That's part of how you spot a conspiracy theory: the same event can be "explained" any number of ways.

You'll walk through the four moves on separate screens, with a debunk on every step.