EXCLUSIVE: A party insider has claimed that Reform Party stalls were attacked by members of the public at the weekend.
Members of Nigel Farage’s party were allegedly attacked. (Image: Getty)
A Reform UK insider has said that three of the party’s stalls were attacked in British towns at the weekend, claiming that Sir Keir Starmer‘s speech at Labour conference has seen vitriol aimed at Nigel Farage‘s outfit “ramping up” over the past two weeks. Gawain Towler, a member of Reform’s governing board, told our podcast The Daily Expresso that the incidents occurred in Crawley, Caterham and Redbridge, in the east of London. He said: “It saddens me to say that this weekend three of our street stalls were attacked.” Mr Towler added: “The mood has hardened, it’s tightened. I’ve not seen anything like that for years and years and years.”
When asked what had happened by host JJ Anisiobi, he said: “People were throwing hot coffee at them and things of this sort as they walk past.” Mr Towler added: “You don’t know that as it flies through the air. You really don’t know what it could be. And so it’s unpleasant and dangerous and not a good thing.” He said that he has told party activists to “go in twos” for their own safety while out in communities. “I don’t want them to go out on their own anymore, because you just don’t know,” Mr Towler said.
Gawain Towler appeared on the Expresso podcast. (Image: Daily Express)
It comes after the Prime Minister and his colleagues repeatedly branded Reform’s policy to remove the right to remain from some migrants legally living in Britain as “racist” and “immoral”.
He later told Sky News that he did not believe Mr Farage himself was racist.
Sir Keir said: “No, nor do I think Reform voters are racist.
“They’re concerned about things like our borders, they’re frustrated about the pace of change.
“I’m not for a moment suggesting that they are racist.”
The PM insisted he had been talking about a “particular policy”, adding that it “would tear our country apart”.
Campaigners purportedly had coffee thrown on them. (Image: Getty)
Mr Farage said that Labour’s rhetoric “will incite and encourage the radical left” and “directly threatens the safety” of his party’s campaigners as he accused Starmer of descending “into the gutter”.
He added that Sir Keir should feel “ashamed” of his comments, which he called an “absolute disgrace” in the wake of the fatal shooting of conservative US activist Charlie Kirk.
Home Office minister Mike Tapp said that suggestions from Reform that the Prime Minister has incited violence against Mr Farage are “offensive” and “ridiculous”.
He told Sky News: “There’s no way on earth the Prime Minister, or myself, or any MP across the House – on all parties, by the way – that would want any harm to come to another Member of Parliament.”
