Vaccine-Sceptic Views Among Reform UK Council Leaders Raise Concerns
A third of Reform UK council leaders have expressed vaccine-sceptic views. Four of the 12 councils led by Reform UK or where it is the largest party are Kent, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, and Durham.
Kent council leader Linden Kemkaran suggested Reform UK hold an inquiry into whether Covid vaccines are linked to cancer, despite there being no medical evidence supporting such a link. Worcestershire council leader Jo Monk acknowledged vaccines' role in disease prevention but said she remains undecided on certain immunisations, citing personal experience and the fact that medical practitioners have varying views.
Warwickshire county council leader George Finch questioned the latest chickenpox vaccine, suggesting chickenpox parties could be used instead to get the virus out of the way, describing the virus as a part of life. The chickenpox jab is currently being considered for inclusion in the childhood vaccination programme.
Durham council leader Andrew Husband posted on social media in October 2023 that vaccines were horrific and likened them to crimes against humanity; this post has since been deleted.
Health minister Zubir Ahmed condemned these remarks as dangerous and utterly irresponsible, warning that sowing doubt over vaccines risks harming children and vulnerable people.
At Reform UK's September conference, cardiologist Aseem Malhotra, who advises Robert Kennedy, claimed the Covid vaccine caused cancer in the royal family, a claim that drew widespread condemnation. Reform UK's leadership acknowledges that vaccine hesitancy is widespread within the party, with prominent figures such as Nigel Farage, deputy Richard Tice, and Danny Kruger expressing doubts. Malhotra also helped write Reform UK's health policy.
Meanwhile, public health chiefs have launched national campaigns aiming to boost childhood vaccination rates amid rising concerns about uptake and outbreaks of diseases such as measles in England. A Reform UK spokesman stated that the party supports proven vaccination programmes but opposes forcing blind obedience to every vaccine without evidence, arguing that this approach erodes trust and allows misinformation to spread.
