Reform UK has been forced to delay its rally by an hour after members faced down protesters outside the Utility Arena in Birmingham.
Ex-Brexit Party MEP David Bull, who was expected to open the event at 6.30pm, only took to the stage at 7.30pm.
Confirming the delay, Reform UK said: "Due to protestors outside, we will be starting our livestream from Arena Birmingham at the later time of 7.30pm."
It has been estimated that 10,000 tickets have been sold for tonight's Local Elections launch, with Reform UK insiders describing the event as the "biggest ever launch rally in modern British political history".
Reform UK forced to DELAY rally as thousands of members face down anti-Farage protesters
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Nigel Farage will use the event to deliver a speech "like nothing you've ever seen before", figures close to the Reform UK leader have claimed.
Reform UK bigwigs Zia Yusuf, Lee Anderson and Richard Tice will also deliver speeches at the event.
However, the speeches were pushed back by an hour after anti-Brexit protesters joined forces with masked demonstrators in Birmingham.
One banner read: "No borders, no binaries."
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Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice (C) stands at a mock bus stop during the Reform UK campaign launch rally at the Utilita Arena
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Protesters were also heard chanting: "Nigel Farage kiss my a**e, you're a puppet of the ruling class."
Anti-Farage protesters had vowed to make Reform UK members to arrive to a "wall of noise" in Birmingham.
There were two anti-Reform UK events scheduled ahead of tonight's rally.
One protest is being held under the banner Birmingham United Against Racism and is coordinated by anti-racist campaigners, community groups, and trade unions including Birmingham Race Impact Group, Stand Up to Racism and Kings Heath United Against Racism.
However, a separate event, hosted by Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana, raised eyebrows.
Nigel FaragePAThe "No Thanks, Nigel" event, which is also being attended by former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, sparked outrage after Sultana compared the politics of Reform to the National Front and British National Party.
Addressing the spat with Sultana on Good Afternoon Britain last month, Farage told GB News: "I think it's disgraceful and frankly I think it's almost inciteful. What she said about me and said about our people is very close to incitement.
Rejecting Sultana's decision to compare Reform UK to the BNP, the Clacton MP added: "Reform is non-sectarian, non-racist.
“We're open to absolutely everybody. It's just that we're patriotic, we believe in controlling our borders and putting the interest of the British people first."
Following a protest outside Reform UK's Cornwall rally in Redruth last month, Farage sent a defiant message after a group of unruly masked demonstrators labelled attendees "Nazis" and left on person injured.
Demonstrators protest outside of the venue of political party Reform UK's Local Election Campaign Launch
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He said: "We're used to name-calling and a few eggs being thrown, but this was Antifa - very dangerous American organisation, and they're violent.
"They see violent protest as being acceptable. Somebody has already had their tooth knocked out. These are very nasty, dangerous people.
"No political protest in Britain should be allowed with people wearing masks. That is completely unacceptable at every level.
“I'm astonished that Antifa have not been banned as an organisation."
Farage added: "Let me give a message to Antifa, let me give a message to two-tier Keir Starmer, let me give a message to all of them: We will not be cowed, we will not be silenced by anybody, we are the British people and we want a common sense Government back in charge of our country - we are going to fight for it and we are going to win."
