Farage in a flap after claims migrants eating swans rejected by Royal Parks
The Royal Parks have rejected Nigel Farage’s claims that migrants are killing and eating swans from their grounds.
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The Reform UK leader told LBC that eastern European migrants are taking swans from Royal Parks and carp from ponds across the UK to eat.
A Royal Parks spokesperson 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.”
Hyde Park, Greenwich Park and Richmond Park are among those the Royal Parks charity manages.
The Reform UK leader was asked during a phone-in with Nick Ferrari on Wednesday about US President Donald Trump’s baseless claim last year that Haitian immigrants in the US were eating cats and dogs, which he did not accept was unproven.
He steered the conversation instead to swans and carp allegedly being taken from UK waters.
Mr Farage 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?"
He said it was “people who come from countries where it’s quite acceptable to do so” who are taking the carp and swans.
Asked if it was eastern Europeans, he said: “So I believe.”
The Metropolitan Police was unable to comment on Farage's claims.
LBC have also approached the Environment Agency for a comment.
In 2013, thirteen swans had been found mutilated following a spate of attacks in a central London park.
Royal Parks said most of the swans were found injured rather than dead, leading them to believe that dogs, rather than foxes, were the culprits.
In 2003, Scotland Yard launched an investigation into claims that the Queen's swans were being stolen by gangs of asylum-seekers who cooked and ate them.
However, the Met later said there was no evidence of asylum seekers or people from Eastern Europe being responsible for the reported reductions in the swan population, and no arrests were made.
Videos have been posted online of migrants appearing to fish from community ponds, but it is unclear whether they are breaking any fishing rules and no arrests have been reported.