Covid jab may have caused royal cancers, says Reform speaker

A vaccine sceptic was given a platform at Reform's party conference yesterday to claim that Covid vaccines may have caused the cancers of the king and Princess of Wales.

- Catherine Neilan & Jon Ungoed-Thomas

British cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra claimed that it was “highly likely” vaccines may have been a factor in cancers among members of the royal family. Health secretary Wes Streeting criticised Reform for giving a platform to “poisonous lies”.

Malhotra said he was sharing the views of an expert who he considered was one of the UK’s most eminent cancer doctors. “He thinks it’s highly likely the Covid vaccines have been a factor, a significant factor, in the cancer of members of the royal family.”

A Reform spokesperson distanced the party from his views. They said it did not endorse what he said, but stressed it “believes in free speech”.

Malhotra is chief medical adviser to the US group MAHA Action, which is championing the agenda of US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr to “Make America Healthy Again”.