Lib Dems demand paracetamol public information campaign to counter Farage and Trump “fake news”

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

The Liberal Democrats have called on the Government to launch a public information campaign to counter the “fake news” being peddled by Nigel Farage and Donald Trump around paracetamol and pregnant women.

The party said the campaign should involve celebrities and influencers, paid advertising on social media and posters in hospitals and GP surgeries.

The Liberal Democrats also called on Reform UK to help cover the cost of the campaign in order to repair the damage caused by Nigel Farage’s irresponsible peddling of misinformation. Reform UK doubled down on Farage’s comments with Deputy Leader Richard Tice berating an ITV journalist for questioning him over Farage’s comments.

It comes after Reform’s conference where they had controversial doctor and advisor to US Health Secretary and vaccine sceptic Robert F. Kennedy, Aseem Malhotra speak on the main stage who then went on to suggest the COVID vaccines had been a factor in giving members of the Royal Family cancer. He was introduced at Reform’s conference as someone who had assisted in writing the party’s health policy.

Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson, Helen Morgan MP said:

“Nigel Farage is shamefully copying Trump’s playbook of spreading dangerous fake news that risks leaving pregnant mothers needlessly suffering in pain.

“We cannot allow Trump’s anti-science agenda to take root in the UK. The Government must tackle this fake news head on and launch a public information campaign to give safe advice to pregnant mothers about paracetamol use.

“Nigel Farage should also agree to make a contribution to this campaign from Reform UK to repair the damage he’s done to public trust with his dangerous and irresponsible comments.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The Liberal Democrats propose that the campaign should:

• Partner with the NHS, Royal Colleges, medical regulators (e.g. MHRA), and trusted clinicians to develop authoritative explanatory material.
   
• Use billboards and posters in public places including maternity care areas of hospitals, GP surgeries and medical centres.
   
• Use celebrities, influencers, maternal health charities, and professional networks (midwives, GPs, obstetricians) to amplify messages on social media.
   
• Monitor misinformation trends on social media and debunk emerging false claims with fact-checking.