NIGEL Farage has dodged the public and press on a campaign visit to Hamilton ahead of a crucial by-election, after protesters tracked down where a media call was due to take place.
The Reform UK leader was in Aberdeen on Monday morning, his first visit to Scotland in six years, where he held a press conference and was due to head to Hamilton for a walkabout later in the afternoon.
He expressed anger over a small number of protesters outside the Aberdeen event and, without evidence, accused one Herald journalist of leaking the location.
Farage was then due to arrive for a press call in Hamilton at 2.15pm, but did not show.
Journalists were left waiting in a Premier Inn car park in the town, with no sign of the Reform UK leader. Broadcast and print media was in attendance and for around an hour, outlets caught up with colleagues and discussed Farage's comments towards media in the morning.
As the group waited, the National Union of Journalists published their statement about the Aberdeen press conference and it was shared round.
They stated: "It is shocking that Nigel Farage, who is seeking to become the next PM, feels free to make baseless attacks without any evidence on the integrity of journalists and blame the press for protests.
“The job of journalists is to report on politicians without fear or favour. All politicians across the political spectrum will at some point, face protests and the overwhelming majority have the sense to understand that the job of journalists is to report that.
“Blaming the press for opposition to their policies may be becoming common in some countries, but politicians should understand that this won't fly with voters here. Attacking the press doesn't demonstrate strength: it just exposes a thin skin to voters.”
Several called Reform UK party staff multiple times, only for calls to be sent to voicemail.
One journalist did get through to a party organiser who told them Farage was on his way and cut off the call. This was at 3.20pm, around 40 minutes until his flight was due to leave Glasgow.
Around this time, Farage was pictured campaigning in Larkhall with candidate Ross Lambie and newly defected Scottish Labour councillor Jamie McGuire. Media was not able to attend this walk-about and it is unclear how long Farage spent in the area.
Out and about in Larkhall with @CllrRossLambie. Come and say hello! 🏴 pic.twitter.com/1U8oM5rrWZ
— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) June 2, 2025
By around 3.30pm, members of the Scottish press had begun to leave the agreed meeting point, abandoning the press call altogether.
Farage then posted a picture of himself with Reform UK activists, writing: "Arrived at our campaign HQ in Hamilton".
Arrived at our campaign HQ in Hamilton. Scotland needs Reform! 🏴 pic.twitter.com/3xphQ1y9iQ
— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) June 2, 2025
It is understood that the photograph was taken at the back court of the campaign HQ, which journalists could not access.
The group of around 40 journalists walked in a pack to the hub, and once outside it was clear Farage had been and gone, just a five-minute walk from where they had waited for almost two hours.
It is understood that Farage left Hamilton soon after the image was taken.
As the cameras appeared on Quarry Street, protesters began arguing and shouting at each other as anti-racist and pro-Reform activists clashed outside the campaign hub.
Protesters and people in Hamilton town centre began to shout back and forth while Farage headed to Glasgow airport pic.twitter.com/UFB8u9v7JJ
— Laura Pollock (@laura_pollock_) June 2, 2025
Protesters could be heard shouting "no-show Nigel" outside of the campaign hub as well as singing "where's your Nigel gone?".
A note on the form to apply for media accreditation had said: "Thank you for applying for media accreditation to our upcoming campaign day in Hamilton with Nigel Farage.
"This will take place on Monday 2 June. Arrive 14:00 for a prompt 14:15 start. Meeting point to be confirmed to accredited journalists."
As Farage headed to Glasgow Airport, the people of Hamilton were left screaming in the street at each other.
The National watched as what began as a smattering of protestors on either side descended into what can only be described as a mixture of confusion and chaos.
Crowds gathered outside the Reform campaign hub around 3:30pm on Quarry Street as things began to get tense, with heated arguments breaking out on both sides of the road and protestors blocking traffic.
Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) chanted slogans like “Nigel, Nigel, we know you, you’re a racist through and through” whilst Reform supporters could be heard calling SUTR protestors “tramps” and shouting “you aren’t even from Hamilton, fuck off”.
Campaigners from inside the Reform hub informed members of SUTR — who played XTC’s Making Plans for Nigel through a megaphone under office door — that Farage had left Hamilton the way he entered; through a back door, avoiding both the public and the press.
