Woman charged after milkshake thrown over Nigel Farage during campaign launch

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A woman has been charged after a milkshake was thrown over Nigel Farage as he launched his campaign to become an MP.

Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, has been charged with assault by beating and criminal damage after a milkshake was thrown at the Reform UK leader following a campaign event in Clacton, Essex.

Mr Farage was leaving a Wetherspoons pub after carrying out media interviews when he was hit by the banana milkshake in front of his supporters on Tuesday.

Bowen is due to appear at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 2 July.

A 44-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker has been released and will face no further action.

Mr Farage, a veteran Eurosceptic had earlier addressed supporters at a rally in the town after announcing he would stand for election in the constituency. He was seen with the yellow drink splattered across his dark blue suit as he boarded his campaign bus.

Later in the afternoon, he appeared to make light of the incident later in the day when he posed for the media with a tray of four McDonald’s banana milkshakes during a visit to Jaywick in Essex.

Mr Farage had a £5.25 Five Guys banana and salted caramel milkshake thrown at him in 2019 during a campaign walkabout in Newcastle.

“Milkshaking” – the act of dousing public figures in milkshake – was officially recognised by Collins Dictionary the same year. English Defence League founder Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, and former Ukip candidate Carl Benjamin have also been involved in “milkshaking” incidents.