Nigel Farage has refused to criticise Donald Trump for claiming pregnant women who take paracetamol risk causing autism in their child – saying “science is never settled”.

The Reform UK leader was asked by Nick Ferrari on LBC whether the US president was right to make the link, which UK health officials have discredited.

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He replied: “I have no idea … you know, we were told thalidomide was a very safe drug and it wasn’t. Who knows, Nick, I don’t know.”

Mr Farage, who is a friend of Mr Trump, said the president has a “particular thing about autism – I think because there’s been some in his family, he feels it very personally”.

Asked if he would side with medical experts who have said there is no evidence for the link, Mr Farage said: “I wouldn’t, when it comes to science, I don’t side with anybody.

“I don’t side with anybody, you know, because, because science is never settled, and we should remember that.”

Pressed again on whether it was irresponsible to make that link as US president, Mr Farage replied: “That’s an opinion he’s got. It’s not one that I necessarily share. But I mean, honestly, I’ve no idea.”

On Monday, the US president claimed there had been a “meteoric rise” in cases of autism and suggested the use of Tylenol – an American-branded version of paracetamol – during pregnancy is a potential cause.

UK health experts and officials have pushed back hard on the claim, saying there is “no evidence” for it – including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who said that “I trust doctors over President Trump, frankly, on this”.

Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine, Mr Streeting said: “I’ve just got to be really clear about this: there is no evidence to link the use of paracetamol by pregnant women to autism in their children. None.”

The health secretary then referenced a major study in Sweden last year that involved 2.4 million children, adding it “did not uphold those claims”.

He added: “I would just say to people watching, don’t pay any attention whatsoever to what Donald Trump says about medicine.

“In fact, don’t take even take my word for it, as a politician – listen to British doctors, British scientists, the NHS.”

The health secretary also took aim at Mr Farage over his failure to criticise the US president, saying he had “no idea and no backbone”.

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He referred to a separate controversy in which Dr Aseem Malhotra, a vaccine-sceptic doctor, told the Reform Party conference that the COVID vaccine gave the royal family cancer.

“Anti-science, anti-reason, anti-NHS,” Mr Streeting said.

A spokesperson for Reform UK said: “Dr Aseem Malhotra is a guest speaker with his own opinions who has an advisory role in the US government. Reform UK does not endorse what he said but does believe in free speech.”

The Liberal Democrats also criticised Mr Farage, accusing him of wanting to impose Mr Trump’s “dangerous anti-science agenda here in the UK”.

A spokeswoman said: “Peddling this kind of nonsense is irresponsible and wrong.

“It seems Farage would rather see pregnant women suffer in pain than stand up to his idol Donald Trump.”

Sadiq Khan has branded Donald Trump “racist, sexist, misogynistic” and “Islamophobic” following the US president’s latest attack on London.

The London mayor said he was “living rent free” in Mr Trump’s head after the US president used his address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday to criticise the UK, and London specifically.

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The president continued his long-running criticism of Mr Khan and told delegates the UK capital was being run by a “terrible mayor” who had “changed” the city.

One of his most outlandish claims was that London wanted to operate under Sharia law, Islam’s legal system – something there is no evidence for.

The president said: “I look at London, where you have a terrible mayor, terrible, terrible mayor, and it’s been changed, it’s been so changed.

“Now they want to go to Sharia law. But you are in a different country, you can’t do that.”

Asked about the attacks made by the US president, who enjoyed his second state visit to the UK last week, Sir Sadiq said: “I think President Trump has shown he is racist, he is sexist, he is misogynistic, and he is Islamophobic.”

He went on to say the public would be “wondering what it is about this Muslim mayor who leads a liberal, multicultural, progressive, successful city that means I appear to be living rent-free inside Donald Trump’s head”.

“When people say things, when people act in a certain way, when people behave in a certain way, you’ve got to believe them,” he added.

Mr Trump has also blamed crime in London – which he said was “through the roof” – on Sir Sadiq’s leadership, and said he had also been a “disaster” on immigration.

The president’s comments, which he made on Air Force One on the way back to Washington from London after the state visit, prompted a spokesperson for the mayor to issue a staunch defence of the city.

“London is the greatest city in the world, safer than major US cities, and we’re delighted to welcome the record number of US citizens moving here,” they said.

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Sir Sadiq and Mr Trump have long had a thorny relationship, dating back to the president’s call in 2015 for a total and complete shutdown” of Muslims entering the US before he assumed office.

The London mayor’s approach to Mr Trump comes in stark contrast to his Labour government colleagues, who have sought to keep the US president on side over issues including trade and tariffs.

The UK steel industry has been hit with 25% tariffs, as opposed to the 50% that has been levied on other countries.

The relationship between Mr Trump and Sir Sadiq presented the prime minister with an awkward moment during an hour-long news conference when the president visited Scotland in July.

Mr Trump called Sir Sadiq a “nasty person” who has done “a terrible job” – to which Sir Keir interjected with a laugh: “He’s a friend of mine.”

The president added: “I think he’s done a terrible job but I will certainly visit London, I hope so.”