Nigel Farage offered private security after milkshake and other objects thrown at Reform leader while campaigning

Nigel Farage

Nigel Farage has been offered additional security by the Home Office following incidents where a milkshake and other items were thrown at him during his campaign for the general election

PA
Georgina Cutler

By Georgina Cutler


Published: 12/06/2024

- 11:55

Updated: 12/06/2024

- 12:38

The Reform UK leader was targeted with a cup and another object while he was on a party battle bus in Barnsley

Nigel Farage has been offered additional security by the Home Office following incidents where a milkshake and other items were thrown at him during his campaign for the General Election.

It comes after the Reform UK leader was targeted with a cup and another object while he was on a party battle bus in Barnsley, South Yorkshire on Tuesday.


Last week, a milkshake was launched at the 60-year-old in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.

Two people have been charged over the incidents.

Nigel Farage

The Reform UK leader was targeted with a cup and another object while he was on a party battle bus in Barnsley, South Yorkshire on Tuesday

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Following the attacks, the Home Office is believed to have contacted Farage to offer additional private security.

Police bosses have said it is hard to determine the intentions of people in crowds while candidates are out speaking to members of the public.

They added that many would-be MPs may not want to be placed in a bubble.

South Yorkshire Police has confirmed that Josh Greally, 28, has been charged with using threatening behaviour towards Nigel Farage.

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Last week, Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, was charged with assault by beating and criminal damage when a milkshake was thrown over the former MEP.

Over recent months, the number of crime reports relating to MPs has significantly dropped.

In January and February, around 260 intelligence reports and 60 or 70 crime reports were received by police in relation to Operation Bridger, which focuses on the security of elected representatives.

This number plummeted to tens of intelligence reports and "small numbers" of reported crimes in the past two months.

Nigel Farage drenched with milkshake while campaigning in ClactonGETTY

Speaking to supporters in Great Yarmouth following the attack, Farage pledged to "not surrender" to the mob and to continue campaigning, following his attack in Yorkshire.

He told the crowd: "Whilst it is concerning and whilst of course it does make me thoughtful and I may need to change tactics slightly, but I'm going to make one promise to you and the tens of thousands watching this live online and the media.

"And my promise is this I will not surrender to the mob. I will not stop campaigning."

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