Nigel Farage has refused to criticise Donald Trump for claiming pregnant ladies who take paracetamol threat inflicting autism of their youngster – saying “science is never settled”.
The Reform UK chief was requested by Nick Ferrari on LBC whether or not the US president was proper to make the hyperlink, which UK well being officers have discredited.
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He replied: “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.”
Mr Farage, who’s a good friend of Mr Trump, stated the president has a “particular thing about autism – I think because there’s been some in his family, he feels it very personally”.
Requested if he would facet with medical specialists who’ve stated there is no such thing as a proof for the hyperlink, Mr Farage stated: “I wouldn’t, when it comes to science, I don’t side with anybody.
“I do not facet with anyone, you realize, as a result of, as a result of science isn’t settled, and we must always keep in mind that.”
Pressed again on whether it was irresponsible to make that link as US president, Mr Farage replied: “That is an opinion he is obtained. It is not one which I essentially share. However I imply, truthfully, I’ve no thought.”
On Monday, the US president claimed there had been a “meteoric rise” in circumstances of autism and advised the usage of Tylenol – an American-branded model of paracetamol – throughout being pregnant is a possible trigger.
UK well being specialists and officers have pushed again exhausting on the declare, saying there may be “no evidence” for it – together with Well being Secretary Wes Streeting, who stated that “I trust doctors over President Trump, frankly, on this”.
Talking on ITV’s Lorraine, Mr Streeting stated: “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.”
The well being secretary then referenced a serious examine in Sweden final 12 months that concerned 2.4 million youngsters, including it “did not uphold those claims”.
He added: “I would just say to people watching, don’t pay any attention whatsoever to what Donald Trump says about medicine.
“In reality, do not take even take my phrase for it, as a politician – take heed to British medical doctors, British scientists, the NHS.”
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The well being secretary additionally took purpose at Mr Farage over his failure to criticise the US president, saying he had “no idea and no backbone”.
He referred to a separate controversy by which Dr Aseem Malhotra, a vaccine-sceptic physician, informed the Reform Social gathering convention that the COVID vaccine gave the royal household most cancers.
“Anti-science, anti-reason, anti-NHS,” Mr Streeting stated.
A spokesperson for Reform UK stated: “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.”
The Liberal Democrats additionally criticised Mr Farage, accusing him of eager to impose Mr Trump’s “dangerous anti-science agenda here in the UK”.
A spokeswoman stated: “Peddling this kind of nonsense is irresponsible and wrong.
“It appears Farage would somewhat see pregnant ladies endure in ache than stand as much as his idol Donald Trump.”
