Keir Starmer strongly criticized Reform for spreading dangerous vaccine conspiracy theories that he argued put lives at risk. The Prime Minister expressed distrust towards Nigel Farage and his associates regarding the NHS, citing an incident where a speaker at a Reform event connected Covid vaccines with Royal Family members suffering from cancer. Dr. Simon Opher, a former GP turned MP, asked Starmer to denounce these false rumors.
Starmer emphasized the detrimental impact of such conspiracy theories on public health, stating that Reform’s credibility on NHS matters is questionable. He proudly highlighted the successful vaccination of half a million children against chicken pox. Dr. Opher, emphasizing the importance of vaccinations and their history in his constituency, urged the Prime Minister to update the House on the new chicken pox vaccination rollout and to condemn political parties that propagate misinformation about vaccines.
In response, Starmer commended the efforts to protect children through vaccination, contrasting Labour’s approach with Reform’s. During a Reform UK conference, Dr. Aseem Malhotra made controversial statements linking Covid vaccines to cancer in members of the Royal Family. Malhotra’s claims were refuted by fact-checking organizations, emphasizing that there is no evidence to support such assertions. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) consistently monitors vaccine safety.
Reform UK distanced itself from Malhotra’s remarks, stating that he holds his own opinions and serves in an advisory role in the US government. The party clarified that while they respect free speech, they do not endorse his statements.
