04 June 2024 , 14:44
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Two people have been arrested after Nigel Farage had milkshake thrown over him in Clacton.
The Reform UK leader was pelted with the drink as he launched his campaign to be the seaside town's MP. Essex Police have confirmed a woman was arrested on suspicion of assault, while a man is accused of assaulting an emergency worker.
Mr Farage was walking out of a Wetherspoons pub when the milkshake was thrown at him. Supporters and detractors had gathered outside the venue, where he had spoken to journalists moments before.
A spokesman for the force said: "Officers have made two arrests after responding to a report a drink was thrown at a man in Clacton. We were called to the area of Marine Parade East, Clacton, at around 2.10pm today (Tuesday 4 June).
"It was reported a man had a drink thrown over him as he left a premises in the area. A 25-year-old woman, from Clacton, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault.
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A milkshake was thrown at Nigel Farage outside a pub in Clacton (AFP via Getty Images)"While officers were responding and making this arrest, a second individual, a man, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. Both individuals remain in custody for questioning."
The Reform UK boss had the drink thrown over him as he walked out of the Moon and Starfish. It happened as Mr Farage was launching his campaign to become the MP for the seaside town. A short time earlier he had told voters that he would be a "bloody nuisance" if he gets elected to Parliament.
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The woman who threw the milkshake, who gave her name as Victoria, told the BBC in the immediate aftermath: “He doesn’t stand for me, he doesn’t represent anything I believe in, or any of the people around here. He doesn’t represent us, he’s not from here.”
Mr Farage could be seen wiping the drink from his face (AFP via Getty Images)The attack drew widespread condemnation, with Labour's Yvette Cooper branding it "completely unacceptable". She added: "No one should face intimidation or assault in an election campaign." Mr Farage's Tory opponent in Clacton, Giles Watling, also hit out, stating: "We may disagree, but every candidate has the right to campaign without fear of violence or intimidation."
Mr Farage later tried to make light of the pelting, buying a round of McDonald's milkshakes in nearby Jaywick, Essex. Holding one aloft he quipped “My milkshake brings all the people to the rally” - referencing the famous Kelis song Milkshake.
Mr Farage, who previously had milkshake thrown at him while campaigning in Newcastle in 2019, appeared very displeased as he strode out of the venue. Footage of the incident show a woman launching the drink - which seems to be banana flavoured - at him.
Mr Farage clutched his face after the incident, which raises questions about security arrangements around Parliamentary candidates. The milkshake-splattered candidate was escorted toward a bus after the liquid was thrown at him. Richard Tice, who was party leader until Mr Farage swooped in on Monday, appeared to smile as it happened.
But in response to the milkshaking, Mr Tice said: "The juvenile moron who threw a drink over Nigel has just gained us hundreds of thousands more votes. We will not be bullied or threatened off the campaign trail."
Former UKIP boss Mr Farage had been speaking to reporters in the Moon and Starfish pub as supporters and detractors gathered outside. Some witnesses appeared to clap after the drink was thrown at him.
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It comes nearly five years after he suffered a similar fate while out and about in Newcastle ahead of the 2019 election. A clip of that incident showed a furious Mr Farage berate his security team, demanding: "How did you not stop that happening? It's a complete failure."
The Reform UK leader earlier declared that the election is "over" and Keir Starmer will be PM after July 4. He lambasted the Tories who he claimed had "betrayed" voters' trust and said they won't be an effective opposition.
Launching his campaign - his eighth attempt at getting a seat in Parliament - he told a crowd in the seaside town: "This election effectively is over. The breach of trust from the Conservatives means that they're finished, they're done. We are going to get a Labour government, whether you like it or not."