Man accused of using threatening behavior after objects thrown at Nigel Farage

A man has been charged with threatening behavior towards Nigel Farage after objects were thrown at him during the general election campaign. The UK Reform leader was on top of a party battle bus in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, on Tuesday morning when a cup was thrown, narrowly missing him.

A man in a red hoodie could be seen shouting from a construction area below, before reaching into a bucket and throwing something else, which also missed. On Wednesday, South Yorkshire Police said Josh Greally, 28, was charged with using threatening, abusive, insulting words and behavior with intent to cause fear or unlawful violence.

He was bailed to appear at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court on June 26. Mr Farage, speaking on the campaign trail in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, said the incident was “pretty nasty”.

Politicians from other parties joined Mr Farage in condemning “violence” towards candidates at the general election. Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “There must be no place for violence and intimidation in our politics and these actions should be condemned by everyone.”

Stephanie Peacock, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Barnsley South, said: “Bullying has no place in our politics. I condemn the violence we have seen in Barnsley town center today.”

It comes after Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, was charged with assault by beating and criminal damage when a milkshake was thrown at Mr Farage as he left the Moon and Starfish Wetherspoons pub in Clacton-on-Sea of Essex on Tuesday last week.

Mr Farage was seen with the yellow drink splattered on his dark blue suit as he boarded his campaign bus. Thomas Bowen is due to appear at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on July 2.

During a campaign walk in Newcastle in 2019, Mr Farage was given a £5.25 Five Guys banana and a salted caramel milkshake.