Milkshake Mayhem: Nigel Farage Targeted Again During Clacton Campaign Launch

Nigel Farage was doused with a milkshake following the initiation of his election campaign in Clacton. This incident mirrors a similar occurrence in 2019 in Newcastle, where the Reform UK leader was targeted with a milkshake in an act a judge deemed "politically motivated."

Political correspondent @alixculbertson

Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at 7

For an enhanced viewing experience, it is recommended to use the Chrome browser.

Nigel Farage was doused with a milkshake following the kickoff of his campaign in Essex.

The recently appointed head of Reform UK had just exited the Wetherspoons Moon and Starfish pub in Clacton-on-Sea, where he is campaigning for a parliamentary seat, when a young woman dressed in a grey hoodie splashed a beverage on his face and tossed the cup at him before walking away.

It looked like a milkshake from McDonald's.

He appeared to grimace when the fluid splashed on his face, and then he quickly removed it while his team guided him to safety.

Essex Police have detained a 25-year-old woman from Clacton following an incident where a beverage was reportedly hurled at a man on Marine Parade East at approximately 2:10 p.m.

While police were detaining the woman, another individual, a male, was taken into custody for allegedly attacking an emergency responder.

"The two people are still being held for interrogation," stated a representative from the police department.

Further Details on Nigel Farage

Nigel Farage unveils strategy for an 'inverse acquisition' of the Conservative Party

From UKIP Renegade to Declared 'People's Army' Commander: Key Insights as Nigel Farage Declares Run in the General Election

Nigel Farage announces his candidacy for the Clacton constituency in the upcoming general election.

Associated Subjects:

Approximately two hours following the event, Mr. Farage stood before the Reform UK bus holding a McDonald's banana milkshake, proclaiming, "This milkshake attracts everyone to the gathering."

He later described to ITV News how the experience was "extremely unsettling," and expressed his belief that he was singled out "due to my public engagements."

He continued, saying: "What is Rishi's approach? He gathers a room of about two dozen council members or so.

"Nobody engages in traditional street campaigning like I do. It comes with its own set of risks, and I'll admit, it can be quite frightening."

Shortly before a milkshake was hurled at him, Mr. Farage had kicked off his campaign in the presence of numerous backers, having declared his candidacy for Reform UK earlier that Monday.

Last week, he announced that he would not pursue a position as a Member of Parliament, having unsuccessfully run for the role seven times before.

At his campaign kickoff, Mr. Farage addressed his followers, asserting that the Conservative Party had violated the trust of the British public by allowing unprecedented levels of mass immigration.

He explained that this signified "they have concluded, they are over," and contended that he needed to be in Westminster to advocate for reforms under a Labour administration.

According to a recent YouGov survey conducted for Sky News, the Labour Party is poised to win the election, securing 42.9% of the votes. Meanwhile, the Reform Party is expected to capture 10.1% of the votes, marking an 8.1% rise from their 2019 results

Richard Tice, the predecessor of Mr. Farage as the leader of Reform, defended his successor after stepping down on Monday.

"The young fool who splashed Nigel with a beverage has inadvertently won us several hundred thousand additional votes," he posted online.

"We refuse to be intimidated or forced out of the election race."

👆 Click here to subscribe to Electoral Dysfunction on your favorite podcast platform 👆

Giles Watling, the Tory contender for Clacton, apologized after his opponent was doused with a beverage.

"He emphasized that despite differing opinions, it is essential for every candidate to be able to campaign in a safe environment, free from violence and intimidation."

Ex-Tory minister and attorney Robert Jenrick described the act as "unequivocally a criminal offense," emphasizing that "such behavior toward any candidate of any political party during campaigning is completely unacceptable."

Yvette Cooper, the Labour Party's shadow home secretary, described the attack on Mr. Farage as a "disgraceful assault."

She stated: "Absolutely inappropriate and incorrect. Nobody should be subjected to threats or violence during an election campaign. I appreciate the prompt action taken by the police."

Discover further: Essential insights on Nigel Farage and the twelve prominent Conservative figures in jeopardy of losing their positions.

Mr. Farage is quite familiar with having food and beverages thrown at him, and this isn't the first incident where he's been the target of a milkshake attack.

In May 2019, during a promotional walk in the center of Newcastle ahead of the European elections, Paul Crowther, a resident of Newcastle, threw a banana and salted caramel milkshake, which he had purchased for £5.25 from the fast-food restaurant Five Guys, at the former leader of the Brexit Party.

He was apprehended on the spot and admitted to charges of common assault and criminal damage. He was mandated to compensate Mr. Farage £350 for suit cleaning expenses following the attack, which was deemed politically motivated.

In 2014, during a campaign stop in Nottingham, UKIP leader Mr Farage was targeted by a protester who hurled an egg at him.

Explore further details about the election: Track the General Election polls. Caution advised against the threat of audio deepfakes potentially disrupting the election. While the Conservatives may falter, there is a noticeable lack of fervent support for Labour.

Stay ahead with the latest Breaking News.

Download the Sky News application at no cost

The other individuals competing for the Clacton MP position include:

Associated Subjects

Sky News Bottom Section

Information About Sky News

Services Provided by Sky News

Sky Networks

Additional Sky Websites