A charity has been forced to deny Nigel Farage’s claims that swans are being eaten by eastern Europeans in London’s Royal Parks.
The Reform UK leader had accused migrants living in the UK of taking both carp and swans – a protected species – from ponds in Britain’s Royal Parks and killing them.
He said: “If I said to you that swans were being eaten in Royal Parks in this country, that carp were being taken out of ponds and eaten in this country by people who come from cultures that have a different… would you agree it happened, is happening here?”
Politics latest: Pensions triple lock to stay, says minister
Asked who he believes is doing this, Mr Farage told LBC it was “people who come from countries where it’s quite acceptable to do so”.
Pressed on whether it was eastern Europeans, he said: “So I believe.”
Swans are protected in the UK by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it illegal to kill, harm or disturb them.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Farage weighs in on Trump paracetamol debate
Shortly after Mr Farage made his claim, a spokesperson for the Royal Parks said “no incidents” or people “killing or eating swans” have been reported.
They said: “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 claims about eastern Europeans eating swans are reminiscent of US President Donald Trump’s claims that Haitian migrants were killing Americans’ pets.
Read more:
Here’s what the evidence says about Trump’s paracetamol claims
Davey warns Farage wants to turn Britain into ‘Trump’s America’
He said in a presidential debate last year: “In Springfield, they are eating the dogs.
“The people that came in, they are eating the cats. They’re eating – they are eating the pets of the people that live there.”
This was dismissed as a “dangerous conspiracy theory” by the US National Security Council spokesperson at the time.
