GMC examines doctor's speech linking vaccines to royal cancer

The General Medical Council is examining comments by a controversial doctor who used a speech at Reform UK's conference to link Covid vaccines to cancer in the royal family, amid mounting condemnation of him by senior medics.

- Ben Quinn Denis Campbell

The regulator, which is charged with upholding professional standards in British medicine, is also progressing with an investigation into Aseem Malhotra, currently an adviser to Donald Trump's health secretary, Robert F Kennedy, over a previous claim. It may consider whether to stop or limit his ability to work as a doctor in the UK in the interests of protecting the public.

There have been warnings from medical bodies that his "pseudo-science" remarks could undermine trust in doctors.

Keir Starmer used prime minister's questions on Wednesday to hit out at Reform UK and Malhotra, saying: "The man who wrote Reform's health policy has made shocking and baseless claims that vaccines are linked to cancer and that has been endorsed by Reform.

"These dangerous conspiracies cost lives and it shows that Reform can't be trusted with our NHS."

After being given a prime speaking slot at Reform UK's conference, Malhotra set out what he said were findings showing that vaccines "created havoc" in the human body.