Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform Party, faced another attempted assault during his campaign for next month's election when a man threw objects at him during an open-top bus tour on Tuesday.
Farage was travelling through Barnsley in northern England, waving to crowds from the bus, when a man threw what appeared to be large pieces of broken stone at him. Footage on social media showed the objects missing him, and the politician appeared unharmed.
Police arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of public order offences, believing he threw the objects from a construction site.
Farage, known for his role in encouraging the Brexit vote in 2016, is running as a candidate in the July 4 election. He said on X, "I will not be bullied or cowed by a violent left-wing mob who hate our country."
Last week, a 25-year-old woman was charged with assault for throwing a drink in his face as he left a pub.
Farage became Reform's new leader last week, increasing pressure on the ruling Conservative Party, which is trailing the main opposition Labour Party in the polls and losing support to Reform. He has consistently argued that the Conservatives need to reduce immigration.
In 2019, Farage was doused in a milkshake while campaigning for the Brexit Party, Reform's predecessor. He has faced accusations of racism, including during the Brexit campaign when he appeared in front of a poster showing lines of migrants under the slogan "Breaking Point." Last month, he said Muslims did not share British values.
During his two decades as a lawmaker in the European Parliament, Farage regularly provoked many politicians there.
(Reuters)
Kamal Pankhania
