Third of Reform UK's council leaders have expressed vaccine-sceptic views

"It comes after a controversial doctor, the cardiologist Aseem Malhotra, used his main-stage speech at Reform's conference in September to air a claim that the Covid vaccine had caused cancer in the royal family, which drew immediate condemnation. Malhotra, a senior adviser to the vaccine-sceptic US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy, has long been publicly hesitant about Covid vaccines, claiming they pose a greater threat than the virus itself a view debunked repeatedly by factcheckers."

"Vaccine hesitancy, however, appears to run throughout the party. Nigel Farage, his deputy, Richard Tice, and the Conservative defector Danny Kruger have all raised doubts. The first Reform council leader, Linden Kemkaran, who runs Kent county council, suggested in September that the party should hold an inquiry into whether Covid vaccines were linked to cancer, even though there is no medical evidence to back up the notion."

One third of Reform UK council leaders have expressed vaccine-sceptic views and questioned public health measures. Several councils where Reform is in charge or the largest party include leaders who criticised vaccinations. Health minister Zubir Ahmed called such remarks dangerous and warned that politicians who cast doubt on vaccines risk exposing children and vulnerable people to harm. Cardiologist Aseem Malhotra claimed at Reform's conference that the Covid vaccine caused cancer in the royal family; factcheckers have repeatedly debunked similar claims. Malhotra has publicly asserted that Covid vaccines pose greater threats than the virus. Senior figures Nigel Farage, Richard Tice and Danny Kruger have also raised doubts.

Read at www.theguardian.com