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.

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.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s moment in the United Nations General Assembly chamber came a day after he told Sky News that Donald Trump’s language represented a “big shift” in America’s stance on Ukraine. 

The dust is settling on US President Trump’s social media post on Tuesday.

While it unquestionably represents a shift in position – now claiming Ukraine can take back all of the land lost – big questions remain about Mr Trump‘s personal and material commitment to a Ukrainian victory.

Mr Zelenskyy is taking the win that the language represents, but he, more than anyone, knows that Mr Trump can turn on a dime.

And so his speech was a warning, a message and a continued plea for help.

The Ukrainian leader cited history in warning that Russia won’t stop unless it is defeated.

Mr Zelenskyy said: “We have already lost Georgia in Europe. Human rights and the European nature of the state system are only shrinking there.

“Georgia is dependent on Russia and for many, many years, Belarus has also been moving towards dependence on Russia.”

“Putin will keep driving the war forward, wider and deeper… Ukraine is only the first. Russian drones are already flying across Europe.”

“Europe cannot afford to lose Moldova too,” he said.

UN latest: Zelenskyy tells UN ‘God saved’ Trump from assassination

Drawing on the experience of his country, he warned of what he said was a uniquely dangerous proliferation of weapons.

“We are living through the most destructive arms race in human history,” he said, warning specifically of the dangers of drones which will soon be controlled by artificial intelligence (AI).

But he also warned of the proliferation of the use of violence, whether it be from nation states or from political activists.

He cited the assassination attempts on Mr Trump and the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

He included these moments not just because he believes they represent a dangerous and tragic shift but because he knows he needs to keep President Trump and his base of support on side. Showing empathy with them is important.

👉 Follow Trump100 on your podcast app 👈

He spoke in perfect English. Not long ago, he struggled with the language. He knows that now, more than ever, he needs to communicate in the language of those who hold the key to his country’s future.

“Of course, we are doing everything to make sure Europe truly helps, and we count on the United States,” he said.

He closed with a plea to the nations of the world, gathered in the chamber.

“Don’t stay silent while Russia keeps dragging this war on… Please join us in defending life, international law and order,” he said.

“People are waiting for action.”