Protesters heckled Nigel Farage as they interrupted a Reform UK press conference – but the insurgent party leader had the last laugh with a brutal four-word putdown. Mr Farage was announcing Alexander Jones as the party’s candidate for the Doncaster mayoral election when at least three demonstrators began shouting before they were ejected.

But refusing to be cowed, Mr Farage told his audience: “We will not be stopped by a ranting student mob, we will fight on and win these elections in Doncaster” – and in a cutting four-word slapdown, he told the protesters to “go back to school”. He described one of those who interrupted his speech as a “saddo” and another as a “loser”. Mr Farage said: “We know these hard-Left organisations are going to do everything … go back to school please, we know what’s going to happen.

“Boring, boring, boring. They will do everything they can to stop this being a free and fair election. Have a look at that. The anger, the anger. You must be at university.”

He added: “That’s what you get folks, when teaching unions in this country are poisoning the minds of young people, not just against Reform, but against everything this country has ever stood for.

“I’ll make it clear, when we’re in a position of power, we will go to war with these Left-wing teaching unions and make sure our kids are taught properly.”

It was not immediately clear what was being shouted by those who were escorted out of the conference hall but it was claimed the protesters were part of an anti-racism group.

Sabby Dhalu, co-convenor of Stand Up To Racism, said: “Nigel Farage

 and Reform UK are trying to spread hate and division at a time when we need unity. We are seeing the same old scapegoating of migrants while real issues like NHS underfunding, cost of living, and workers’ rights are ignored.

“Farage and his rich donors do not stand for working people and stir up racism and division. Reform is a threat to our communities.”

Weyman Bennett, co-convenor of Stand Up To Racism, added: “Reform claims to stand for ordinary people, but its real agenda is one of division and distraction.

“Farage is a millionaire banker who does not represent working-class interests. We will continue to challenge his racist politics and fight for a society based on equality, solidarity, and justice. They are not a normal party, they are a racist party and we will not let them go unopposed.”

Doncaster’s Labour Mayor Ros Jones is seeking re-election in May, She was first elected in 2013 and won in the last poll in 2021 with 31,232 votes, while the Conservative candidate came second with 21,019 votes. Under the election system used, these figures are the combined first and second preference votes for each candidate.