Nigel Farage has broken his silence after being pelted with ‘objects’ while campaigning in Barnsley town centre today.
The Reform UK leader and former I’m A Celebrity campmate took to Twitter after a man seemingly threw items, including at least one takeaway coffee cup, at the politician’s battle bus.
Mr Farage narrowly dodged the objects – which he claimed to be wet cement and a cup – by ducking down on the top deck of the open-air bus as it passed through the centre of town.
Sharing a clip of the moment he was forced to take cover, Mr Farage wrote: “My huge thanks to South Yorkshire Police today. I will not be bullied or cowed by a violent left-wing mob who hate our country.”
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He followed it later by writing: “These people want to stop my election campaign. That’s never going to happen.”
It came as Mr Farage joined aides and campaign staff on top of the bus to wave at the small number of supporters who had gathered to cheer him on. Wearing a flat cap and waxed jacket, the Clacton candidate shook his fist in the air before shouting, “Woah!” and ducking when the first object whizzed towards him.
As his aide swung his phone round to record the altercation, a man in a red hoodie could be seen dipping his arm into a nearby bin, pulling out a coffee cup and throwing it at the bus.
A group of security guards wearing hi-vis were seen tackling the man, who escaped their clutches and ran, only to be stopped by police officers.
South Yorkshire Police told the Mirror: “We have arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of public order offences following disorder in Barnsley Town Centre today (11 June). It is believed that the man threw objects from a nearby construction area. A suspect was quickly detained and remains in police custody.”
It comes after Farage was targeted by a protestor on the first day of his campaign in Clacton, Essex, who threw a banana milkshake over him.
The protestor, who identified herself as model Victoria Thomas-Bowen, said she has earned £40,000 in the last few days from the 2,000 new subscribers who have signed up to her racy platform. She was arrested and charged with assault by beating and criminal damage.