Overview

• Dr Aseem Malhotra is scheduled to deliver the only main-stage health speech at Reform UK’s Birmingham conference this weekend.
• Jeanette Dickson of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges warned that abandoning scientifically established evidence in healthcare puts lives in danger.
• Health minister Stephen Kinnock criticized Reform’s choice and pledged to defend JCVI-led vaccination policy, as a new BMG poll reported Reform leading Labour by 15 points.
• Coverage links Malhotra’s role with RFK Jr’s MAHA to recent U.S. moves that alarm experts, including canceling $500m in mRNA funding and dismissing the immunisation advisory committee.
• Fact-checks note Malhotra’s claim that Covid vaccines did more harm than good is at odds with UKHSA estimates of 127,500 deaths prevented and ONS data recording 63 deaths involving the vaccines, and he no longer works in the NHS.