Nigel Farage has stirred controversy with his recent comments about mental health and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The leader of Reform UK claimed that the UK is “massively overdiagnosing mental health issues” and creating a “class of victims.”
🚨 Farage’s Controversial Comments
Speaking at a local election press conference in Dover, Farage said, “It’s a massive problem. When you put someone on a disability register at 18, unemployed and receiving high benefits, you’re telling them they’re victims. And if you think you’re a victim, you are likely to stay one.”
He also suggested that many of these diagnoses were made via Zoom by GPs, particularly for children with SEND. His comments were met with strong reactions from parents and organisations supporting people with disabilities.
😡 National Autistic Society Responds
The National Autistic Society was quick to respond, calling Farage’s comments “wildly inaccurate” and completely out of touch with the reality faced by those with SEND. They firmly refuted Farage’s claim that autism diagnoses are made easily via a GP, saying, “No one has got an autism diagnosis through the GP – this is just wrong.”
The organisation emphasised that people with SEND, including autistic individuals, face huge delays and struggles just to receive the most basic support. They also warned that such misinformation only fuels stigma and makes life harder for these individuals.
🗣 Experts Weigh In
Brian Dow, Deputy Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness, also criticised Farage’s comments, stating, “If Farage has a medical degree, he hasn’t been keeping up with his professional development. We’re not over-diagnosing; we’re abandoning a generation in crisis.”
Lib Dem education spokesperson, Munira Wilson, pointed out that Farage’s rhetoric could be laying the groundwork for cuts to essential SEND services in councils. She argued, “The special needs crisis needs urgent repair, not lazy rhetoric.”
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