Farage swarmed by angry protesters in Edinburgh

[Chippiewill]

UKIP leader Nigel Farage had to find refuge in a pub after he was swarmed by angry protesters as he left a press conference.

When he later left the Canons' Gait pub in Edinburgh's historic old town and was escorted into a police van, protestors chanted "scum, scum, scum".

Mr Farage was in Edinburgh to launch his party's Scottish campaign.

The party, which wants to leave the European Union, hopes to build on electoral gains in England.

Mr Farage told the BBC he had never had a reaction like this before.

Earlier this week, Mr Farage said First Minister Alex Salmond was "illogical" to want to keep an independent Scotland in the EU.

During the protest, Max Crema, 21, Vice President of services at Edinburgh University Students Association, suggested UKIP has "a well documented history of racism".

Mr Farage replied: "If you believe that then you are less intelligent than you look, dear boy.

"We are a non-racist, non-sectarian party and unlike every other party in British politics we actually forbid people who have been on extreme left or right-wing extremes from joining our party."

Protesters chanted "Farage is being lifted" and "How does it feel to be treated like an asylum seeker?"

A UKIP spokesman described the scene as "inchoate rage".

"Was it anti-English? I doubt it, I don't think they thought that far," he said.

"I don't think he was shaken up by it. He was laughing, in fact."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22559526

I laughed a fair bit at him taking refuge in a pub. I swear every time he's doing some kind of promotional campaign he's in a pub.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Twenty to forty/fifty (judging from pictures) radical left, baby faced & scruffy students protesting. No more representative of Scottish Britons than a UAF or BNP rally is. What concerns me is that a lot of English Britons are now using this as another reason to class the Scots as whingers when in reality this is just a small sect of radicals having an ironic anti-racism protest where they shout 'go home' to the English bloke.

Pictures here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...candidate.html

I'd expect a few extra points to add onto the UKIP polling figures in Scotland from this. I suspect like their fellow Britons living in England, people living in Scotland will resent being essentially called racist for simply wanting immigration controlled - a concept obviously above this goon squad.

Guido Fawkes ‏@GuidoFawkes 1h

Scottish anti-racist campaigners are shouting anti-English abuse at Nigel Farage. I see.

[GommeInc]

Apparently Farage isn't that popular in Scotland. The SNP, as per, have stated UKIP isn't welcome although whether or not this echoes popular opinion is another thing. That said, it does seem to be a belief held in Scotland that UKIP isn't a party for them, but I guess it is a new party to Scotland that some may say only focuses on English problems.

[AgnesIO]

Apparently Farage isn't that popular in Scotland. The SNP, as per, have stated UKIP isn't welcome although whether or not this echoes popular opinion is another thing. That said, it does seem to be a belief held in Scotland that UKIP isn't a party for them, but I guess it is a new party to Scotland that some may say only focuses on English problems.

He isn't for obvious reasons; Scotland want independence. The United Kingdom Independence Party-less Scotland doesn't have the same ring to it. Although it is somewhat ironic he goes mad over power being held in Brussels, yet doesn't like the idea of Scottish powers being held in.. Scotland.

You guys heard the BBC interview that he hangs up in? Can listen to it on this article; http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22566183

[-:Undertaker:-]

He isn't for obvious reasons; Scotland want independence. The United Kingdom Independence Party-less Scotland doesn't have the same ring to it.

Scotland doesn't want independence, look at the polls.

At least Mr. Farage is making an effort with Scotland, i've not seen much of Mr. Cameron, leader of the Conservative and supposed-Unionist Party.

Although it is somewhat ironic he goes mad over power being held in Brussels, yet doesn't like the idea of Scottish powers being held in.. Scotland.

I don't see the hypocrisy in it at all. That's like arguing that you should support all moves to independence by every independence movement when clearly thats not a logical position to take. I don't support more powers for the Scottish 'parliament' either - I believe Scotland is a part of Britain and should remain so - if the Scottish people disagree then sure, they shoud go independent and they can.

Looking at the polls, they don't want to.

Apparently Farage isn't that popular in Scotland. The SNP, as per, have stated UKIP isn't welcome although whether or not this echoes popular opinion is another thing.

The latest YouGov placed them at 5% in Scotland so not that popular compared with the rest of the UK, no. But then again there's always chance to grow, and the Conservatives & Liberal Democrats aren't polling anywher near their national average in Scotland either - just as they don't in the north of England where in some regions UKIP are pretty close to replacing them as the main opposition to Labour (in some polls).

The sad thing is that since devolution (which has weakened the Union, not made it stronger) Scotland and Scottish politics seems to be drifting more and more away from the rest of us - something that makes independence more and more likely. I find that sad being a Unionist, and its one of the reasons why I will always loathe the Blair Government for possibly bringing to an end the country I was born in.

[-:Undertaker:-]

You guys heard the BBC interview that he hangs up in? Can listen to it on this article; http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22566183

The BBC bias is incredible. Just look at this.

[AgnesIO]

The BBC bias is incredible. Just look at this.

Not denying their bias, was just asking if people had heard it!

[Chippiewill]

The interview I listened to was fine. The BBC would be doing something wrong if they weren't grilling the leader of what is now a major political party.

[-:Undertaker:-]

The interview I listened to was fine. The BBC would be doing something wrong if they weren't grilling the leader of what is now a major political party.

I have never heard BBC interviewers speak in that sort of attitude (its not the questions, its the tone of voice) to Cameron, Miliband or Clegg. Nor have I ever heard a BBC interview with those three involve attacks hidden in questions such as 'and how many seats does x hold in Scotland?'

Sometimes I know that people can fall into the trap of shouting bias when 'their side' is grilled - and even I have in the past. That's why now whenever I hear a hostile interview, I try and imagine the same tone and questions from the BBC being put towards one of the main leaders. If I can imagine it - then its me. If I can't, then its the BBC.

All that being said, this was just one badly conducted interview. The BBC has I think in recent years improved in terms of balance not only on UKIP but also on other controversial topics such as the EU, global warming, state spending and so on. Long may it continue to improve.

[Chippiewill]

I have never heard BBC interviewers speak in that sort of attitude (its not the questions, its the tone of voice) to Cameron, Miliband or Clegg. Nor have I ever heard a BBC interview with those three involve attacks hidden in questions such as 'and how many seats does x hold in Scotland?'

I think the use of that question was very fair, Nigel was quite clearly attempting to overstate his position and good on the interviewer for actually taking him on with that.