‘Someone needs to get the sack’: Nigel Farage speech interrupted by Vladimir Putin banner
A speech being delivered by Nigel Farage, the leader of Britain’s right-wing Reform UK party, was interrupted late on Saturday when a banner of Russian president Vladimir Putin descended from the ceiling at an election rally.
Campaign group Led by Donkeys, which opposes Mr Farage’s views, said it was responsible for the stunt at the Columbine Centre, at Walton-on-the-Naze in southeast England, and posted a video of the unveiling on X.
It showed the banner slowly unfurling behind a speaking Mr Farage, revealing a smiling Putin giving a thumbs-up sign, along with the words “I (heart emoji) Putin”.
Led By Donkeys said on X: “Nigel Farage says Putin is the world leader he ‘admires the most’ and blames the West for Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.”
That was a reference to comments Mr Farage made earlier this month when he said the eastward expansion of the European Union and Nato had provoked Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
The remarks, made in an interview with the BBC, drew strong criticism across the British political spectrum ahead of a national election on Thursday in which Mr Farage’s party is predicted to win millions of votes.
On seeing the banner, Mr Farage said: “Who put that up there,” adding: “Someone at the Columbine Centre needs to get the sack.” The audience then started chanting: “Rip it down.”
Reuters has sought comment from Reform UK.
Mr Farage is seeking election in Clacton-on-Sea, which is 14km from Walton on the Naze.
He has insisted “the bad apples are gone” from Reform UK after facing accusations from across the political divide that he failed to show leadership over allegations of racism within the party.
Mr Farage said he would “never have them back” following the withdrawal of support for three candidates over the row that has engulfed the party over the final week of campaigning.
Speaking at a Reform rally in Birmingham yesterday, he also claimed that footage of a canvasser using a racial slur against Rishi Sunak had been used as a “smear campaign” against the party.
Campaigners for Reform were recorded by an undercover journalist from Channel 4 making racist comments, including about the prime minister, who is of Indian descent.
The footage showed canvasser Andrew Parker using a slur about Mr Sunak and suggesting migrants arriving in the UK on small boats should be used as “target practice”.
Another activist described the Pride flag as “degenerate” and suggested members of the LGBTQ+ community are paedophiles.
Addressing an audience of thousands yesterday, Mr Farage said: “Look, Reform is a new organisation. It’s a start-up and there were requests put out for candidates to stand.
“Have we had a few bad apples? We have, although to my knowledge nobody involved in an organised betting ring is standing for us, which is something.”
Mr Farage has suggested that Mr Parker, who is an actor, was used as a “plant” by Channel 4 in their undercover investigation into his campaign – a claim the broadcaster strenuously denies.
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