Health Secretary Wes Streeting hit out at the Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, saying he is ‘the snake oil salesman of British politics and it’s time to stop buying his rubbish’
Nigel Farage has been accused of having “no backbone” after refusing to say whether Donald Trump was irresponsible to link paracetamol to autism.
The Reform UK leader claimed that “science is never settled” as he declined to side with medical experts who warned it was dangerous to make the link. Health Secretary Wes Streeting responded to the former Ukip leader’s LBC interview on Wednesday, saying he was “the snake oil salesman of British politics and it’s time to stop buying his rubbish”.
The US President had said there had been a “meteoric rise” in cases of autism and suggested that Tylenol – which is called paracetamol in the UK – is a potential cause. The unproven claim in the Oval Office sparked an immediate backlash from experts and medical regulators.
But asked on LBC on Wednesday by presenter Nick Ferrari whether the US President was right to make the link, Mr Farage replied: “I have no idea. I have no idea, you know, we were told thalidomide was a very safe drug and it wasn’t. Who knows, Nick, I don’t know.”
READ MORE: Donald Trump’s autism claim debunked after paracetamol warning to pregnant women
He said Mr Trump has a “particular thing about autism – I think because there’s been some in his family, he feels it very personally. I have no idea”.
Asked if he would side with medical experts who say it is dangerous to make the link, Mr Farage said: “I wouldn’t, when it comes to science, I don’t side with anybody. I don’t side with anybody, you know, because science is never settled, and we should remember that.”
Put to him that it was irresponsible to make that link as US president, Mr Farage said: “That’s an opinion he’s got. It’s not one that I necessarily share. But I mean, honestly, I’ve no idea.”
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Responding to his comments, Mr Streeting, the Health Secretary, posted on X: “No idea and no backbone. This is a man whose health adviser claimed at Reform’s Conference that the covid vaccine gave the Royal Family cancer. Anti-science, anti-reason, anti-NHS. Farage is the snake oil salesman of British politics and it’s time to stop buying his rubbish.”
Liberal Democrat Health spokeswoman Helen Morgan added: “Nigel Farage wants to impose Trump’s dangerous anti-science agenda here in the UK. Peddling this kind of nonsense is irresponsible and wrong. It seems Farage would rather see pregnant women suffer in pain than stand up to his idol Donald Trump.”
Mr Streeting was also forced on Tuesday to urge pregnant women to ignore Mr Trump’s claims and “pay no attention whatsoever” to what he has to say about medicine. I trust doctors over President Trump, frankly, on this,” Mr Streeting added. “I’ve just got to be really clear about this: there is no evidence to link the use of paracetamol by pregnant women to autism in their children. None.
Yesterday Dr Steven Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said Monday’s announcement “is not backed by the full body of scientific evidence and dangerously simplifies the many and complex causes of neurologic challenges in children”.
He continued: “Studies that have been conducted in the past, show no clear evidence that proves a direct relationship between the prudent use of acetaminophen during any trimester and fetal developmental issues.”
Dr Monique Botha, associate professor in social and developmental psychology at Durham University, added: “I am confident in saying that no relationship exists. Pain relief for pregnant women is woefully lacking and paracetamol is a much safer option during pregnancy than any alternative.
“The fearmongering will prevent women from accessing the appropriate care.”
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