Farage repeats urban myth of migrants eating swans

Nigel Farage has been condemned for peddling false information and “wild conspiracy theories” after he falsely accused Romanians in Britain of eating swans in parks in his latest attack on migrants living in the UK.

- ARCHIE MITCHELL MILLIE COOKE

The Reform UK leader claimed “swans are being eaten in royal parks” and said carp were being taken out of ponds “by people who come from different cultures”.

Asked who he believes are eating Britain’s swans, which are a protected species in the UK, Mr Farage said: “People who come from countries where that’s quite acceptable.”

Pressed by LBC’s Nick Ferrari whether eastern Europeans, Romanians and “people like that” were responsible, Mr Farage said: “So I believe.”

The Royal Parks charity quickly rejected Mr Farage’s claim, saying: “We’ve not had any incidents reported to us of people killing or eating swans in London’s eight Royal Parks.

“Our wildlife officers work closely with the Swan Sanctuary to ensure the welfare of the swans across the parks.”

Mr Farage’s comments echo US president Donald Trump’s unfounded claims that Haitian migrants are eating Americans’ pets, with Labour MPs saying the Reform leader’s latest remarks are another example of why he shouldn’t be trusted.

Labour MP Clive Lewis told The Independent: "When a public figure begins to peddle wild conspiracy and grotesque exaggeration, from migrants eating swans to hinting at unknown harms from paracetamol, it reveals a troubling approach: deliberately feeding fear, confusion, and distrust.

"Some will fall for those lies, but others will see through the smokescreen. If this man cannot be trusted on the simplest matters of health or truth, then how can he be trusted to run a country? We must ask: if he'll lie today, what will he lie about tomorrow?"

Meanwhile, Andy McDonald, Labour MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, said his comments are a "direct lift from the Trump song book and a deliberate attempt to inflame tensions in our communities".