Far-Right Group Britain First Are Defending UKIP

The far-right group last night launched a retaliatory protest against Beyond UKIP, which two weeks ago protested against Nigel Farage in his local pub.

The far-right group Britain First last night launched a retaliatory protest against Beyond UKIP, a group of activists who demonstrate against Nigel Farage's anti-EU party.

youtube.com / Via britainfirst.org

Beyond UKIP made headlines two weeks ago after it organised a protest in a pub where Farage was having lunch with his family.

Britain First leader Paul Golding told BuzzFeed News he decided to retaliate to send a message to protesters who "intimidate" UKIP politicians during the election campaign.

Golding learned that Beyond UKIP were holding a meeting in central London and decided his group would do their best to disrupt it.

The former BNP councillor said: "We decided we'd give them a taste of their own medicine, which is exactly what we did last night. So we turned up, we searched the building, we found the room where they were holding this meeting, we tried to gain access but there were about 15 people clinging to the door.

"So hopefully, fingers crossed, they'll think twice before they harass any more British families having lunch with their children."

This isn't the first time Britain First has defended UKIP officials. At UKIP's spring conference, the far-right group clashed with protesters outside the conference centre in Margate.

Britain First has also adopted the slogan: "UKIP at the ballot box, Britain First on the streets."

Dan Glass, the leader of Beyond UKIP, told politics.co.uk that Britain First's activists intimidated others in the building, including a room of pregnant women.

"They were banging on the door and trying to barge their way into a room in which there were pregnant mothers," Glass said.

"Everyone was so scared and holding back about 15 huge people saying: 'We're going to get you. We're going to get you.' Who knows what they would have done if they had got in."

Golding insisted this form of retaliation was justified.

"Please don't take the moral high ground with these people," he told BuzzFeed News. "You're talking about a group of people that ran into a pub and drove a family including children out and then jumped on their bonnet as they were driving away."

"I think we achieved our goals," Golding told BuzzFeed News.

Britain First / Via youtube.com

Golding said Britain First might carry out more retaliation protests over the course of the election campaign, adding that the group is encouraging its supporters to back UKIP.

"We have actually sidestepped the general election to give UKIP a clear run," he said.

"But when we hear that left-wing opponents are trying to disrupt UKIP meetings or trying to harass UKIP politicians, then if the police don't do anything, which they usually don't, then we will step in and protest those people from disruption or intimidation."

UKIP has always distanced itself from Golding and the group's actions.