Farage hits out at 'yobbo, fascist scum' protesters

UKIP leader Nigel Farage described protesters who mobbed him in an Edinburgh pub as "fascist scum"

Staff were forced to clear the Canons' Gait pub on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, where Mr Farage was due to hold a press conference near the Scottish Parliament, after it was filled with the chanting protesters.

The UKIP leader attempted to make an escape by taxi but protesters blocked its path and Mr Farage was forced to return to the pub, where police barricaded the doors against protesters until officers in a riot van came to his aid.

Two men were arrested after the protest and Mr Farage was escorted from the scene "to ensure his safety", Police Scotland said.

Mr Farage was in Edinburgh to promote his candidate Otto Inglis in the Aberdeen Donside by-election, but the pub was soon filled by dozens of protesters shouting "racist Nazi scum".

He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland: "The fact that 50 yobbo, fascist scum turn up and aren't prepared to listen to debate I absolutely refuse to believe is representative of Scottish public opinion. It is not."

Listen to the full interview here.