'Shame on you!' Ukip supporters abused by anti-fascist protesters at party event in Stoke
UKIP supporters arriving at a party rally in Stoke have been abused by anti-fascist protesters.
Protesters chant at people arriving for UKIP rally
Demonstrators shouted “racists out” and “shame on you” at ticket holders as they arrived at the Ukip event, which will also be attended by Nigel Farage and the party’s leader Paul Nuttall.
Both men have been in the city campaigning for the forthcoming by-election later this month - where Mr Nuttall looks on course to win the party’s second parliamentary seat.
Despite surging support in the polls, protesters gathered outside the Victoria Hall to rail against the anti-EU party.
Ukip supporters attending a party event in Stoke were abused by protesters
Racists out!
As about 250 of the party’s advocates arrived, they were met with a barrage of jeering and abuse from demonstrators.
As one woman repeatedly shouts “racists out!” A man, wearing a white jumper who appears to be attending the event, turns around and shouts “Oh! Shut up!”
In the 33-second video, which shows a handful of protesters taking part, another angry demonstrator chants: “Shame on you!” to a bemused couple entering the building.
A number of anti-fascist protesters gathered outside the Ukip event
A man entering the Ukip event told protesters to "shut up"
It’s not the first time the party has faced abuse in Stoke after Mr Farage and Mr Nuttall had an egg thrown at them while campaigning in the city’s centre on Monday afternoon.
The pair were forced to dodge the missile allegedly thrown by a youth as they tried to drum up support ahead of the crucial by-election on 23 February.
Ukip hopes it will take the seat from Labour, who beat the party by 5,000 votes at the 2015 General Election.
Nigel Farage and Paul Nuttall had an egg thrown at them earlier in the day
The two Ukip politicians had been campaigning in the city centre
The pro-Brexit party is expected to run a much closer race this time round after a large majority of Stoke voted for Britain to leave the EU in the June referendum.
A recent poll carried out by campaign ground Leave.EU suggested Mr Nuttall was way ahead of his Labour rival.
It showed the new Ukip leader had 39 per cent of support in the Staffordshire constituency, with Labour's Europhile candidate Gareth Snell in second with 33 per cent of the vote.