Nigel Farage faced criticism for spreading an unsupported statement alleging that migrants are hunting and consuming swans from parks. The leader of Reform UK implied that individuals from Eastern Europe are capturing swans from Royal Parks and fish from ponds in the UK for consumption. However, the Royal Parks promptly refuted this claim.
A spokesperson for the Royal Parks clarified, “No reports have been received regarding the killing or eating of swans in London’s eight Royal Parks. Our wildlife officers collaborate closely with the Swan Sanctuary to safeguard the well-being of the swans across the parks, including Hyde Park, Greenwich Park, and Richmond Park, which are under the management of the Royal Parks charity.”
During a phone-in on LBC, Mr. Farage was questioned about former US President Donald Trump’s unfounded assertion last year that Haitian immigrants were eating cats and dogs, a claim he did not deem as proven. LBC host Nick Ferrari revisited an interview where Mr. Farage wagered £10 that evidence would emerge to support Mr. Trump’s baseless claim about Haitian migrants consuming pets.
When asked if he would now acknowledge that the US President’s claim was “completely nonsensical” a year later, Mr. Farage diverted the conversation towards the possibility of swans being consumed in Britain. He likened it to Mr. Trump’s pet-eating allegation, stating the difficulty of proving or disproving such claims.
Mr. Farage insinuated that individuals from cultures where consuming swans and fish is acceptable are responsible for taking these animals. When questioned if he was referring to Eastern Europeans, he affirmed, “So I believe.”
In a separate segment of the LBC interview, Mr. Farage declined to comment on whether Donald Trump was irresponsible for linking paracetamol to autism. The Reform UK leader defended his stance by stating that “science is always evolving,” refusing to align with medical specialists cautioning against making such connections.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting criticized Mr. Farage, stating, “No understanding and no courage. This individual’s health advisor alleged at the Reform’s Conference that the Covid vaccine caused cancer in the Royal Family. Anti-science, anti-logic, anti-NHS. Farage is the fraudulent salesman of British politics, and it’s time to reject his misinformation.”
Previously, the US President suggested a surge in autism cases and speculated that Tylenol, known as paracetamol in the UK, could be a potential trigger. This unverified assertion in the Oval Office triggered immediate backlash from experts and medical regulators.