A woman has been arrested after throwing a milkshake over Nigel Farage at his campaign launch in Clacton, Essex, with the politician responding in a social media video.
The Reform U.K. Leader, who announced on Monday that he will be running in the July general election for a seat as an MP, was targeted by a young woman as he left a Wetherspoon’s pub in the seaside town.
It comes four years after the Mr Farage famously had a milkshake thrown at him in Newcastle, with a judge later describing the 2019 incident as a “politically motivated attack.”
In a statement, Essex Police said: “Officers have made two arrests after responding to a report a drink was thrown at a man in Clacton. We were called to the area of Marine Parade East, Clacton, at around 2.10pm. It was reported a man had a drink thrown over him as he left a premises in the area.
“A 25-year-old woman, from Clacton, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault.”
Police, while making the arrest, said man had also been detained on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.
A woman, identified as Victoria, spoke to the BBC in the aftermath of the incident. She told the broadcaster she threw the milkshake at the politician as she “just felt like it.”
“He doesn’t stand for me, he doesn’t represent anything I believe in or any of the people around here,” she said. “He doesn’t represent us – he’s not from here.”
Farage made light of the situation with his response, posting a video to X in which he declared: “My milkshake brings all the people to the rally.”
The assault, which came less than 24 hours after Mr Farage announced his return to frontline politics, drew confirmation from British Home Secretary, James Cleverly.
“The assault on Nigel Farage is unacceptable, just as it would be for any candidate,” he said. “There is no excuse to resort to behaviour like this. We may disagree, but we debate, and then we vote. That’s democracy.”
Labour’s shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, also blasted the attack, stating: “Disgraceful assault on Nigel Farage today. Completely unacceptable and wrong. No one should face intimidation or assault in an election campaign. Thank you to the police for responding.”