Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Nigel Farage brands LGBT activists 'filth' and 'scum' and accuses them of scaring away his children after they invade his local pub

Ukip leader has become a target for protests against anti-immigration policies

Adam Withnall
Sunday 22 March 2015 13:02 EDT
Comments
Nigel Farage is pictured leaving the pub after the invasion by protesters
Nigel Farage is pictured leaving the pub after the invasion by protesters (Levi Hinds)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The Ukip leader Nigel Farage branded a group of LGBT rights protesters “filth” and “scum” after they invaded a pub where he was having lunch with his family – apparently causing his children to run away.

Campaigners claiming to represent “those who have been targeted by Ukip” planned to stage a demonstration of around 100 people at Mr Farage’s local pub in the village of Downe in Kent.

When they realised the Ukip leader was actually at another pub across the road, they ran across and “took the cabaret of diversity into that pub” instead, according to the activists.

Protestors ambushed Nigel Farage at a pub last Sunday
Protestors ambushed Nigel Farage at a pub last Sunday (Levi Hands)

The politician claimed to be in the pub with his wife and two younger children, aged 15 and 10, when the activists wearing fancy dress came in.

Speaking after the incident, he said: “I hope these 'demonstrators' are proud of themselves. My children were so scared by their behaviour that they ran away to hide.

“At the time of writing this a relative has gone to look for them, and they are not yet at home. These people are scum.”

It was later reported that the children had been found and returned home.

But protesters inside the pub claimed that Mr Farage was at the bar with his “entourage” and an almost-empty pint when they came in.

One, who asked to remain anonymous, said Mr Farage “charged like a bull” and questioned why they were there, calling the protesters “filth”.

Protest organiser Dan Glass said the campaigners wearing fancy dress included migrants, HIV activists, gay people, disabled people and breastfeeding mums.

Nigel Farage was mobbed as he ran out to his car
Nigel Farage was mobbed as he ran out to his car (Levi Hands)

“Ukip are a con,” he said. “They pretend to be anti-establishment but this couldn't be further from the truth.

“By wrongfully shifting the blame for the economic crisis on to immigrants they have let the bankers off the hook.

“We will not succumb to their prejudice. We will create the world we want to live in. A world beyond Ukip.”

Responding to reports that Mr Farage's children had fled from the protest, Mr Glass said: “He was sitting on his own and left on his own. We didn't see any kids.”

“It was very good-natured - there was certainly nothing very intimidating about it,” he said.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in