Yahoo News Nigel Farage live: Two arrested after Reform leader has milkshake thrown at him in Clacton
Newly-crowned Reform UK leader Nigel Farage had a milkshake thrown at him today after he kicked off his general election campaign in Clacton-on-Sea.
The incident came after Mr Farage promised to be a “bloody nuisance” in Westminster. A 25 year-old woman has been arrested.
During his campaign launch, the former Ukip leader set out his goal for Reform UK to effectively take over the Conservative Party – and potentially put him in No 10 in future. On Tuesday he told ITV’s Good Morning Britain his goal was to take the party over rather than join it.
In his first major public speech since announcing his candidacy he addressed a crowd of hundreds at Clacton Pier. Shouts from the crowd included “get ‘em Nige” and “we love you Nigel”. He told those gathered: “Send me to Parliament to be a bloody nuisance.”
But Mr Farage did not have to go to Westminster to stir up chaos, as his supporters clashed with protestors over a sign that said: “Farage not welcome in Clacton”.
Key Points
‘We can take over Conservative party’ - Farage
Farage pledges to a ‘bloody nuisance’ if elected
Milkshake thrown in Farage’s face in Clacton
‘Tories deserve to be punished for Brexit betrayal’- Farage
Farage ‘not interested’ in Tory MP defections
06:00 , Athena Stavrou
While launching his electoral campaign in Clacton-on-Sea on Tuesday, Nigel Farage made it clear he was not interested in working with Tory MPs.
When asked whether he expected any more members of the Conservative Party to defect to Reform, as Lee Anderson had done, Mr Farage said: “I am not very interested in Tory MPs. They had their chance and failed. I am more interested in the British people.”
Nigel Farage could win Reform UK as many as four seats at general election, says YouGov
05:00 , Athena Stavrou
Nigel Farage’s decision to stand as MP and take over as party leader could change Reform UK’s chances of winning seats in the general election, says polling firm YouGov.
Reform was on course to come out of the election empty handed, according to forecasts on Monday.
But the data’s release came hours after The Independent broke the news that Nigel Farage had decided to stand as the party’s candidate in Clacton, Essex.
According to YouGov’s director of political analytics, Patrick English, the announcement “significantly increases the odds” that Reform could win at least one seat – and even up to four.
He told The Independent: “I do think that Farage intervening significantly increases the odds of Reform UK winning one, perhaps even two seats in Westminster. You might even put an upper band of four on that depending on what exactly happens between now and 4 July.”
ICYMI: Two people arrested after milkshake thrown over Nigel Farage as he launched general election campaign
03:30 , Athena Stavrou
Two people arrested after milkshake thrown over Nigel Farage as he launched general election campaign
Two people have been arrested after Nigel Farage had a milkshake thrown over him as he launched his general election campaign.
Essex Police investigating the incident said they had arrested a 25-year-old woman, from Clacton, at the scene on suspicion of assault on Tuesday.
While officers were responding and making this arrest, a second individual, a man, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker, said the force. Both individuals remain in custody for questioning.
Holly Valance says she convinced Nigel Farage to run in general election
02:00 , Athena Stavrou
Holly Valance has claimed she convinced Nigel Farage to stand as a Reform UK candidate in this year’s general election.
The former Neighbours actor, 41, said she had been “whispering” in the ex-Ukip leaders’s ear for a long time to convince him to run.
Mr Farage announced he will contest Clacton, Essex, after it was also confirmed he will take over as leader of the party from Richard Tice.
“Hopefully now we will be stronger and we will see what we can do at this next election. I’m a paid up member,” Ms Valance added.
Watch here:
Holly Valance says she convinced Nigel Farage to run in general election
Pictures: Protesters and supports descend on Clacton for Farage’s campaign launch
01:00 , Athena Stavrou
Farage hints at ambitions to take over Conservative Party
Wednesday 5 June 2024 00:01 , Athena Stavrou
Nigel Farage has suggested his long-term aim is to effectively take over the Conservative Party.
He told ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Tuesday that he could not stand for or seek to lead the Conservative Party “as they currently are”.
But he added: “You can speculate as to what’ll happen in three or four years’ time, all I will tell you is if Reform succeed in the way that I think they can, then a chunk of the Conservative Party will join us – it’s the other way around.”
He pointed to Canada, where “Reform did a reverse takeover of the Conservative Party, rebranded it and Stephen Harper – who was elected as a Reform MP – became the Canadian prime minister for 10 years”.
He said: “I don’t want to join the Conservative Party, I think the better thing to do would be to take it over.”
Reform not dictating Tory migration policy, James Cleverly says
Tuesday 4 June 2024 23:00 , Athena Stavrou
No other political party is dictating the Conservatives’ migration policy, James Cleverly has said.
Asked by broadcasters if the Tories could move further to the right as a result of Nigel Farage’s return to frontline politics, the Home Secretary and Conservative candidate for Braintree said: “Conservative policies are created with the British people in mind.
“We focus on their needs, on the needs of the British economy and the British people, and our policies are not dictated by any party.
“We have got a credible plan, it is a plan which is already working, bringing those migration figures down and projected to continue to do so under a Conservative government.
“No other party has got a credible plan for migration. Not Reform, not the Lib Dems, not Labour.”
Full story: Nigel Farage could win Reform UK as many as four seats
Tuesday 4 June 2024 22:00 , Athena Stavrou
Nigel Farage’s decision to stand as MP and take over as party leader could change Reform UK’s chances of winning seats in the general election, says polling firm YouGov.
Reform was on course to come out of the election empty handed, according to forecasts on Monday.
But the data’s release came hours after The Independent broke the news that Nigel Farage had decided to stand as the party’s candidate in Clacton, Essex.
According to YouGov’s director of political analytics, Patrick English, the announcement “significantly increases the odds” that Reform could win at least one seat – and even up to four.
Read the full article by Alicja Hagopian here:
Farage could win Reform UK as many as four seats at election, says YouGov
Farage vows to be ‘champion’ for Clacton
Tuesday 4 June 2024 21:30 , Athena Stavrou
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he would be a “champion” for Clacton, which he described as a “forgotten, end-of-the-line town”.
Speaking from the Moon and Starfish pub in the Essex town, he said: “I had to decide, do I want to stand as a Member of Parliament and spend every Friday working in Clacton? Huge decision for me, huge decision for me, I’ve decided, I do.”
He added: “I’ll be here as many Fridays as I can, of course I will. My message to the people of Clacton is, ‘these people here supported me in Ukip and the local MP at the time, Douglas Carswell’.
“They supported me hugely in the Brexit referendum campaign, and they want someone to stand up for their beliefs, and they don’t see that in today’s Conservative Party, they certainly don’t see that in today’s Labour Party.
“I will be their champion on the national issues and on the local issues, having a national figure representing a forgotten, end-of-the-line town, who knows I may well be able to bring some investment and do some good.”
Watch: Nigel Farage makes milkshake joke after Clacton incident
Tuesday 4 June 2024 21:00 , Athena Stavrou
Nigel Farage joked about having a milkshake thrown on him during a campaign stop in Clacton-on-Sea on Tuesday.
Images appeared to show a young woman dousing the Reform UK leader with a McDonald’s banana milkshake as he left the Moon and Starfish pub in the Essex seaside town.
Mr Farage was previously the target of a “milkshaking” incident in 2019 when his party was known as the Brexit Party.
He appeared to reference “Milkshake” by Kelis in a video posted after Tuesday’s campaigning.
Watch below:
Watch: Farage says he will increase turnout at general election
Tuesday 4 June 2024 20:33 , Athena Stavrou
Farage to watch debate tonight
Tuesday 4 June 2024 20:30 , Athena Stavrou
While on a visit to Clacton, Nigel Farage said he will be watching the leaders debate between Sir Kier and Mr Sunak tonight he said he wished he could be taking part himself.
He dismissed the two main party leaders as “Lib Dems saying the same thing”.
Rishi Sunak will go head-to-head with Sir Keir Starmer in a TV debate at 9pm tonight as he strives to turn his party’s fortunes around.
You can follow our live coverage of the debate here.
Farage vows to be ‘bloody nuisance’ for Tories
Tuesday 4 June 2024 20:00 , Athena Stavrou
Nigel Farage has set out his goal for Reform UK to effectively take over the Conservative Party – and potentially put him in No 10 in future.
The Reform UK leader said he would be a “bloody nuisance” in Westminster if he succeeds in becoming an MP at his eighth attempt.
Addressing hundreds of supporters at a rally in Clacton-on-Sea after announcing he would stand for election there, Mr Farage said the Tories should “pay a big price” for betraying the promises of Brexit.
Best pictures from Farage campaign launch
Tuesday 4 June 2024 19:30 , Athena Stavrou
Watch: Nigel Farage appears to ditch Reform UK immigration policy during live interview
Tuesday 4 June 2024 19:00 , Athena Stavrou
Farage says Conservatives should pay a ‘big price’ for immigration
Tuesday 4 June 2024 18:30 , Athena Stavrou
Addressing a rally at Clacton Pier, Mr Farage hit out at the Tories over the handling of Brexit: “We made an offer to the British people, we could get back our independence and control of our borders.
“But what has happened? The Conservatives have betrayed that trust. They’ve opened up the borders to mass immigration like we’ve never seen before.
“And they deserve to pay a price for that, a big price for that.”
Holly Valance says she convinced Nigel Farage to run in general election
Tuesday 4 June 2024 18:00 , Athena Stavrou
Holly Valance has claimed she convinced Nigel Farage to stand as a Reform UK candidate in this year’s general election.
The former Neighbours actor, 41, said she had been “whispering” in the ex-Ukip leaders’s ear for a long time to convince him to run.
Mr Farage announced he will contest Clacton, Essex, after it was also confirmed he will take over as leader of the party from Richard Tice.
“Hopefully now we will be stronger and we will see what we can do at this next election. I’m a paid up member,” Ms Valance added.
Watch here:
Holly Valance says she convinced Nigel Farage to run in general election
Nigel Farage could win Reform UK as many as four seats at general election, says YouGov
Tuesday 4 June 2024 17:40 , Athena Stavrou, Alicja Hagopian
Nigel Farage’s decision to stand as MP and take over as party leader could change Reform UK’s chances of winning seats in the general election, says polling firm YouGov.
Reform was on course to come out of the election empty handed, according to forecasts on Monday.
But the data’s release came hours after The Independent broke the news that Nigel Farage had decided to stand as the party’s candidate in Clacton, Essex.
According to YouGov’s director of political analytics, Patrick English, the announcement “significantly increases the odds” that Reform could win at least one seat – and even up to four.
He told The Independent: “I do think that Farage intervening significantly increases the odds of Reform UK winning one, perhaps even two seats in Westminster. You might even put an upper band of four on that depending on what exactly happens between now and 4 July.”
The top Reform constituencies, reported by data correspondent Alicja Hagopian.
Tuesday 4 June 2024 17:30 , Athena Stavrou
On his campaign launch trip to Clacton, Nigel Farage spoke of the areas of poverty in the constituency, noting that it is a “town at the end of the railway line that has been forgotten and marginalised”.
He said: “I cannot promise miracles but I will try to make a difference to people living here.”
Farage ‘not interested’ in Tory MP defections
Tuesday 4 June 2024 17:00 , Athena Stavrou
While launching his electoral campaign in Clacton-on-Sea on Tuesday, Nigel Farage made it clear he was not interested in working with Tory MPs.
When asked whether he expected any more members of the Conservative Party to defect to Reform, as Lee Anderson had done, Mr Farage said: “I am not very interested in Tory MPs. They had their chance and failed. I am more interested in the British people.”
Farage breaks silence on milkshake gaffe
Tuesday 4 June 2024 16:37 , Athena Stavrou
Nigel Farage took to social media to make light of his milkshake gaffe.
While launching his electoral campaign in Clacton-on-Sea, Farage had what appeared to be a banana milkshake thrown in his face.
Several hours later, the Reform leader got himself a milkshake of his own and declared “my milkshake brings all the people to the rally” in a short clip.
My milkshake brings all the people to the rally. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/SqF9XonuAg
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) June 4, 2024
Nigel Farage vows to replace the Tories as he launches his revolution
Tuesday 4 June 2024 16:30 , Athena Stavrou
Nigel Farage launched his eighth bid to become an MP today with a promise to replace the Conservative Party in a “revolution” which will shake British politics.
The Reform UK leader launched his bid to get into parliament in front of cheering crowds on Clacton pier on the Essex coast, declaring it to be “a revolution to change British politics”.
The event – which was open to members of the public, who attended in their hundreds crowding into the street, lining footbridges and slopes around the launch – contrasted hugely with the stage-managed events of Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer.
But the event was derailed by what appeared to be a banana milkshake being thrown in his face, revealing not everyone in the seaside town welcomed him.
David Maddox reports:
Nigel Farage vows to replace the Tories as he launches his revolution
Tuesday 4 June 2024 16:03 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
An Essex Police statement 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.
“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.”
Breaking: Two people arrested after milkshake thrown over Nigel Farage as he launched general election campaign
Tuesday 4 June 2024 15:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Two people have been arrested after Nigel Farage had a milkshake thrown over him as he launched his general election campaign.
Essex Police investigating the incident said they had arrested a 25-year-old woman, from Clacton, at the scene on suspicion of assault on Tuesday.
While officers were responding and making this arrest, a second individual, a man, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker, said the force. Both individuals remain in custody for questioning.
Two people arrested after milkshake thrown over Nigel Farage
Farage: ‘I’ll make sure Starmer doesn’t shift the UK closer to the EU'
Tuesday 4 June 2024 15:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Nigel Farage said he would make sure Sir Keir Starmer does not shift the UK closer to the European Union, if he is elected as an MP.
The Reform UK leader said: “Brexit destroyed Labour, it split Labour very, very badly.
“I’m going to be there, as a voice, making sure that Starmer doesn’t take us closer back to the European Union.”
Mr Farage also said it was “entirely possible” to reduce net migration to zero which “still leaves lots of room for special skills where we may have a shortage”.
Reform UK leader would be ‘champion’ for Clacton
Tuesday 4 June 2024 15:18 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he would be a “champion” for Clacton, which he described as a “forgotten, end-of-the-line town”.
Speaking from the Moon and Starfish pub in the Essex town, he said: “I had to decide, do I want to stand as a Member of Parliament and spend every Friday working in Clacton? Huge decision for me, huge decision for me, I’ve decided, I do.”
He added: “I’ll be here as many Fridays as I can, of course I will. My message to the people of Clacton is, ‘these people here supported me in Ukip and the local MP at the time, Douglas Carswell’.
“They supported me hugely in the Brexit referendum campaign, and they want someone to stand up for their beliefs, and they don’t see that in today’s Conservative Party, they certainly don’t see that in today’s Labour Party.
“I will be their champion on the national issues and on the local issues, having a national figure representing a forgotten, end-of-the-line town, who knows I may well be able to bring some investment and do some good.”
Farage vows to replace the Tories as he launches his revolution
Tuesday 4 June 2024 15:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Nigel Farage launched his eighth bid to become an MP today with a promise that he plans to replace the Conservative Party in a revolution which will shake British politics.
The Reform UK leader launched his bid to get into parliament in front of cheering crowds on Clacton pier on the Essex coast declaring it to be “a revolution to change British politics”.
The event open to the ordinary members of the public, who attended in their hundreds crowding into the street, and lining footbridges and slopes around the launch, contrasted hugely with the stage managed events of Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer.
David Maddox reports:
Farage vows to replace the Tories as he launches his revolution
Witness saw liquid flying
Tuesday 4 June 2024 15:03 , Sam Rkaina
A member of staff at the pub where Nigel Farage had a milkshake hurled at him described the moment unfold.
The Moon & Starfish worker, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Independent three police officers came into the pub looking for a person after the milkshake was hurled.
While he wasn’t close to the Reform UK leader at the time, from afar, he said: “I saw liquid fly through the air and hit a few customers.”
‘We will not be bullied’: Richard Tice responds to milkshake thrown at Farage
Tuesday 4 June 2024 14:59 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Richard Tice, Nigel Farage’s predecessor as Reform UK leader, 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.”
Nigel Farage’s wild plans for the Conservative Party are doomed
Tuesday 4 June 2024 14:55 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
The Reform UK leader’s return to frontline politics is less about influencing the general election than it is about reshaping the Tories in opposition – and steering them to the right. But, says John Rentoul, here’s why he will fail:
Nigel Farage has lost none of his skill in the art of politics as drama. Had he been leader of Reform UK at the time the general election was called, announcing sooner that he would be a candidate in Clacton, by now he would be struggling to persuade journalists to come to his news conferences.
Read more here:
Nigel Farage’s wild plans for the Conservative Party are doomed
Moment a milkshake is thrown at Nigel Farage as he leaves Clacton pub
Tuesday 4 June 2024 14:43 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
This video captures a girl throwing a drink at Nigel Farage as he leaves the Moon and Starfish pub in Clacton-on-Sea this afternoon.
Just Nigel Farage getting a beer chucked at him pic.twitter.com/txnioRDyrD
— RobGoff (@robertagoffin) June 4, 2024
Milkshake in question banana-flavoured
Tuesday 4 June 2024 14:31 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
The milkshake thrown in the face of the new Reform UK leader appears to be banana-flavoured.
The drink was launched at him as he left the Moon and Starfish pub in Clacton.
Milkshake thrown in Farage’s face in Clacton
Tuesday 4 June 2024 14:27 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Nigel Farage was hit in the face with a cup of milkshake today during his campaign launch in Clacton-on-Sea.
‘We can take over Conservative party’ - Farage
Tuesday 4 June 2024 13:57 , Alex Ross
Farage was bullish on his ambitions for UK Reform after being appointed leader in an interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain.
He said: “You can speculate as to what’ll happen in three or four years’ time, all I will tell you is if Reform succeed in the way that I think they can, then a chunk of the Conservative Party will join us – it’s the other way around,” he said
Mr Farage highlighted Canada, where “Reform did a reverse takeover of the Conservative Party, rebranded it and Stephen Harper – who was elected as a Reform MP – became the Canadian prime minister for 10 years”.
He said: “I don’t want to join the Conservative Party, I think the better thing to do would be to take it over.”
Finished ‘like a rock star leaving a venue'
Tuesday 4 June 2024 13:52 , Alex Ross
As Nigel Farage finished his speech at the rally in Clacton-on-Sea, many of the hundreds watching cheered him off the podium “like a rock star leaving a venue”, says political editor David Maddox who was there to report on what was said.
With people pushing forward asking for selfies, he made his way for a quick tour on an open top bus before settling for a drink at Wetherspoon pub.
Not everyone was pleased to see him, however.
Three protestors held a sign during his speech that read: “Farage not welcome in Clacton”.
Farage pledges to a ‘bloody nuisance’ if elected
Tuesday 4 June 2024 13:31 , Alex Ross
Nigel Farage said he would be a “bloody nuisance” in Westminster if elected as MP in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.
In his first major public speech since announcing his candidacy he addressed a crowd of hundreds at Clacton Pier.
Shouts from the crowd included “get ’em Nige” and “we love you Nigel”.
He told those gathered: “Send me to Parliament to be a bloody nuisance.”
Nigel Farage appears to ditch key Reform UK immigration policy during live interview
Tuesday 4 June 2024 13:18 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Nigel Farage appeared to ditch a key Reform UK policy live on air, admitting that his party’s plan to process asylum seekers in British Overseas Territories is “not terribly practical”.
He was challenged over the party’s “secure detention for all asylum seekers” plan. Contained in Reform’s provisional manifesto, the policy states: “Asylum claims that arrive though safe countries will be processed rapidly offshore in British Overseas Territories. This will stop the scandal of undocumented asylum seekers absconding to work illegally or commit crime.”
But, appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Farage appeared to drop the policy, saying he needed to “sort a few things out”.
Read more here:
Nigel Farage appears to ditch key Reform UK immigration policy during live interview
‘Tories deserve to be punished for Brexit betrayal’- Farage
Tuesday 4 June 2024 13:06 , Alex Ross
Nigel Farage said the Tories deserved to be punished for their betrayal over Brexit.
At a rally in Clacton, the Reform UK leader said: “We made an offer to the British people, we could get back our independence and control of our borders.
“But what has happened? The Conservatives have betrayed that trust. They’ve opened up the borders to mass immigration like we’ve never seen before.
“And they deserve to pay a price for that, a big price for that.”
Fred Sirieix: Farage ‘good at washing dishes’ but ‘no plan in politics’
Tuesday 4 June 2024 12:58 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Nigel Farage’s jungle campmate has spoken out following the new Reform UK leader’s campaign launch.
Fred Sirieix, who took part in ITV’s I’m a Celebrity...Get me Out of Here! last year wrote: “I spoke at length and extensively with Nigel Farage for 3 weeks while in the jungle. I wanted to make my own mind up about him and his views.
“Conclusion is simple. He was very good at washing the dishes in the river but when it comes to politics he has no plan and no substance.”
I spoke at length and extensively with Nigel Farage for 3 weeks while in the jungle. I wanted to make my own mind up about him and his views. Conclusion is simple. He was very good at washing the dishes in the river but when it comes to politics he has no plan and no substance
— Fred Sirieix (@fredsirieix1) June 4, 2024
Independent councillor has Farage’s nomination papers ready to submit
Tuesday 4 June 2024 12:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
David Maddox reporting live from the scene in Clacton-on-Sea:
Independent councillor Peter Harris, a former Ukip candidate who is on the campaign team, already has Nigel Farage’s nomination papers to submit.
