Farage ducks out of Ukip carnival farce

Ukip leader Nigel Farage ducked out of a street rally organised by his party in south London, after the event descended into farce.

The party had promised to bring a “strong and positive message” to the streets of south London with a “bold and vibrant” carnival-style campaign event.

But steel band Endurance Steel, which had been hired to play, walked out amid reports that they had not been told they would be playing for Ukip.

And Ukip candidate Winston McKenzie said Mr Farage would not be attending because of security concerns, after activists clashed with protesters.

The former boxer, who is standing for Croydon Borough Council tomorrow, risked alienating local voters by branding Croydon unsafe and a “dump”.

Romanians carrying banners about Nazis argued on Croydon High Street with party members about Mr Farage’s remark last week that people would be right to be uncomfortable about Romanian neighbours moving in.

And anti-Ukip demonstrators waved placards reading “Ukip racist sexist homophobic scum” and “Nigel Farage racist scum”.