An investigation has been launched after claims Reform UK councillors tried to shut down a music event over posters featuring party leader Nigel Farage, as Farage revealed he has received nearly 600 death threats and now works under bullet-resistant glass at party headquarters.
The row erupted at the Love Music Hate Racism event at Wakefield Exchange (WX) on Saturday. Organisers said they were told by two councillors to “remove any posters and banners that named Farage or the event would be stopped”. Video shared on social media appeared to show Wakefield East Reform councillor Wayne Beddoes in a heated exchange, rising from a bench and leaning into another person’s face before pushing away a camera.
“Investigation after Reform councillors allegedly threatened to stop anti-racism event over Nigel Farage posters.”
West Yorkshire Police confirmed they received a report on Monday relating to the event, and inquiries are ongoing. Wakefield Council said complaints had been received and would be investigated in line with its standards procedure. Wakefield East Reform councillor Steve Parker, who organisers said was present, told the BBC the incident was being investigated and he was unable to comment further. The BBC has contacted Beddoes but received no response.
Farage, whose party won control of Wakefield Council from Labour in May’s local elections, shrugs off the security threats that now define his working life. “When you’re painted as a crook and a villain, what do you expect?” he told Yahoo News. Internal records show he has received nearly 600 death threats, prompting metal detectors, tough-looking guards and bullet-resistant glass at Reform HQ. Farage described the precautions as “unsurprising”.
He argued that the nature of political violence has changed, shifting from organised groups to “online radicalisation and lone wolves” – a diffuse threat that challenges the UK’s Prevent programme, which he considers unfit for purpose. Farage singled out David Lammy’s remark that he had “flirted” with the Hitler Youth, asking: “Do you ever hear me being personally vituperative about my political adversaries?”
The investigation into the poster row continues, with police and the council yet to determine what took place – and whether the councillors’ demands crossed a line.