Farage's Cruelty-Autism

Farage's Cruelty & Misinformation on Autism: A Call for Compassion and Truth in Autism Awareness Month - by Mark Webster, Disability Officer with The Green Party Telford and Wrekin 

As Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month 2025 draws to a close,  the need for understanding, compassion, and factual discussion about autism and the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) system has never been more urgent. Yet, Nigel Farage and Reform UK have chosen this crucial moment to spread harmful and inaccurate narratives about autism diagnosis, compounding stigma and misunderstanding for autistic people and their families across the UK.

SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) is a blanket term that refers to conditions or difficulties that make it hard for a person to learn or access education compared to others, such as learning disabilities, physical disabilities, or emotional and behavioral challenges. 

Farage’s Harmful Claims

In a series of recent statements and at a press conference in Dover, Farage declared that the “SEND system is a complete failure” and called for a “complete overhaul.” He went further, making the unfounded claim that GPs are “overdiagnosing” mental health issues in both adults and children with SEND, and that this supposed overdiagnosis risks creating a “class of victims” in society.

Farage specifically questioned the reliability of diagnoses made by family GPs and via Zoom, suggesting these should be conducted “independently.” He asserted, “I think we are massively overdiagnosing those with mental illness problems and those with other general behavioural disabilities.” These remarks ignore both the reality of the diagnostic process for autism and the daily struggles faced by those seeking support.

No Excuse for Ignorance—Especially Now

There is no excuse for such ignorance—least of all at the end of Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month, a period dedicated to breaking down stigma and promoting acceptance. Farage’s comments not only show a profound lack of understanding, but they also display a cruelty toward one of society’s most vulnerable groups. By perpetuating the myth that autism and other SEND diagnoses are being handed out carelessly, he undermines the lived experience of thousands of families who spend years fighting for recognition and support.

Charities Condemn ‘Fake News’ and Stigma

The National Autistic Society (NAS) immediately condemned Farage’s comments as “wildly inaccurate” and “fake news.” They were unequivocal: “Absolutely no one has got an autism diagnosis through the GP – this is just incorrect, wrong, fake news.” The NAS and other charities stressed that in reality, families face lengthy delays, endless bureaucracy, and a constant uphill battle to secure assessments and appropriate support for their children.

By misrepresenting the stringent and often gruelling process needed to receive an autism diagnosis, Farage’s remarks risk further stigmatising autistic people and their families. The NAS warned that these comments could foster even more misunderstanding and prejudice, undermining the very efforts that Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month is designed to promote.

Mental Health Charities: Facts, Not Culture Wars

Minesh Patel, head of policy at mental health charity Mind, highlighted the real “victims” of this discussion: the facts. “The only victims in this discussion are facts – which are continuously overlooked in favour of fuelling culture wars,” Patel said. He emphasised that stigmatising those struggling with mental health or SEND does nothing to address the genuine problems with access to diagnosis and support.

Political Backlash Against Cruel Rhetoric

Farage’s comments have also drawn sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. Labour’s Peter Swallow accused him of lacking compassion and true understanding of the SEND crisis. Munira Wilson MP (Liberal Democrats) went further, suggesting that his rhetoric is a thinly veiled attempt to justify cuts to essential services for vulnerable young people. “The special needs crisis needs urgent repair – not his lazy rhetoric,” she said, calling for the creation of a National Body for SEND to spearhead real, positive change.

The Real Crisis: Delays, Not Overdiagnosis

The reality is starkly different from Farage’s narrative. Families and individuals with SEND face significant delays and obstacles—not an “epidemic” of overdiagnosis. The process for obtaining an autism diagnosis is complex, involving multidisciplinary teams of specialists, not GPs issuing diagnoses after a brief consultation. The idea that there is an easy route to a diagnosis is not only false but insulting to those who have spent years fighting for help.

A Call for Truth and Compassion

Farage’s comments—cruel, misinformed, and utterly lacking in empathy—come at a time when society should be coming together to promote understanding and acceptance of autistic people and those with SEND. The fight for acceptance and support is far from over, and we must reject rhetoric that perpetuates stigma and misinformation.

Autistic people and their families deserve better—better understanding, better support, and, above all, respect. This Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month, let’s amplify the voices of those with lived experience, and push back against politicians who use their platforms to fuel division and ignorance.

We must demand truth, compassion, and genuine action—not lazy soundbites—from those who would shape our national conversation on autism and SEND.

Mark Webster

Disability Officer 

The Green Party 

Telford and Wrekin