After being questioned by Labour’s Dr Simon Opher, Keir Starmer lashed out at Reform UK for platforming a speaker who linked Covid vaccines with cancer among Royal Family members
Keir Starmer has blasted Reform over “dangerous” vaccine conspiracy theories which he warned cost lives.
The PM said Nigel Farage and co cannot be trusted with the NHS after giving a platform to a speaker who linked Covid vaccines with Royal Family members diagnosed with cancer. He was asked by Labour backbencher Dr Simon Opher, who was a GP before becoming an MP, if he would condemn “false rumours”.
Mr Starmer stated: “These dangerous conspiracies cost lives and it shows that reform can’t be trusted with our NHS.” He told the Commons he was proud that half a million children were receiving chicken pox vaccines.
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Dr Opher said: “Vaccinations were invented in Berkeley, in my constituency 230 years ago, and as a GP, I have jabbed literally thousands of children and adults.
“Will the Prime Minister update the House about our new rollout of chicken pox vaccinations, which will further protect our children. And would he also agree with me to condemn other political parties that give platforms for people who spread false rumours about vaccinations?”
Mr Starmer responded: “Well my friend speaks with great authority, and I’m proud that Labour are protecting half a million children by rolling out the chicken pox vaccine. In stark contrast, the man who wrote Reform’s health policies has made shocking and baseless claims that vaccines are linked to cancer and has been endorsed by the Reform leader.”
During Reform UK’s conference at the weekend, Dr Aseem Malhotra quoted a claim that the Covid vaccine was a “significant factor” in members of the Royal Family having cancer. Dr Malhotra told the party faithful: “One of Britain’s most eminent oncologists, Professor Angus Dalgleish, said to me to share with you today that he thinks it’s highly likely that the Covid vaccines have been a factor, a significant factor, in the cancer of members of the Royal Family.
“What I’m telling you today is nobody is immune to medical misinformation because of this corrupted system.” The King, 76, was diagnosed with cancer last year, while the Princess of Wales, 43, this January announced she was in remission from cancer.
After he came off the stage, Dr Malhotra told the Mirror he was referring to the Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnosis. He said: “42-year-old women from that socio economic background don’t get … we think it’s colon cancer, don’t know for sure, but basically, well, hint hint. He [Dalgleish] is convinced and he said please tell them that it’s highly likely – he was going stronger than that but I said temper your words a bit – that that caused her cancer.”
Independent fact-checking firm Full Fact has said there is no evidence that the Covid-19 vaccines cause cancer in people of any age. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) continually monitors the safety of all vaccines.
A Reform UK spokesman said: “Dr Aseem Malhotra is a guest speaker with his own opinions who has an advisory role in the US government. Reform UK does not endorse what he said but does believe in free speech.”
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