NIGEL Farage has been blasted by the head of a special needs centre after an “unannounced” campaign visit allegedly created an “intimidating and overwhelming” atmosphere.
The Reform UK leader sparked a storm after he arrived at the Hamlet Wigan CIC (community interest company) while on the campaign trail in the Makerfield by-election earlier this week, which resulted in a row between Labour candidate Andy Burnham and a Daily Mail journalist.
Gemma Crompton, the founder of the centre for adults with special needs, wrote to Farage to express her “deep disappointment” about the way he had approached the community cafe.
Burnham had been visiting to celebrate trainees at Hamlet Wigan being awarded gold Duke of Edinburgh awards when Farage and his entourage showed up, with the media in tow.
Crompton said: “As an inclusive community cafe and provision supporting vulnerable young adults with additional needs, safeguarding and emotional wellbeing are at the centre of everything we do.
“While we have absolutely no issue with individuals from any political background visiting The Hamlet, the unannounced arrival of your campaign team, accompanied by a large entourage, security presence, and media crews, created an atmosphere that many of our trainees, families, staff, and customers found intimidating and overwhelming.”
She accused Reform of failing to understand the organisation and causing distress to customers and trainees, who she claimed were filmed and photographed without consent.
Crompton added: “The manner in which the visit was conducted suggested there had been little understanding or research into the nature of our organisation and the safeguarding responsibilities required within an environment such as ours.
"Organisations supporting vulnerable young adults should never be placed in a position where political leaders and campaign teams arrive unannounced with significant media presence and security personnel.
“Clear signage is displayed throughout our cafe requesting that no photographs or filming take place involving our trainees. Unfortunately, filming and photography took place without consent being requested, causing significant safeguarding concerns for our staff and families.”
Reform have previously said that the visit was unplanned and Christian Calgie, the Daily Mail journalist who was accompanying the party, said that Burnham confronted him as he attempted to quiz the Labour candidate.
Burnham was said to have told the journalist: “The press does not walk in like that. If you're going in with the media and a political party, you do not waltz into a place like that.”
He reportedly added: “I know who you are but you should not do that. You should have boundaries.
“I'm not going to do a ‘friendly, matey, this that or the other’. You need to be told.”
The Manchester Mayor, who views the Makerfield by-election as his path to replacing Keir Starmer in No 10, later accused Calgie, who was previously forced to apologise for "racist" comments about Zarah Sultana, of giving a “partial version of events”, adding: “I think it’s time all your readers had the whole story.
“They were all out of order and, if they had any decency, would now hold their hands up and apologise.”
Reform MP Lee Anderson claimed the party had stopped in for a “convenience break”.
Writing on Twitter/X, the Ashfield MP said: “We had no idea Andy was there. The reason we stopped by is because there is a lake there where Rob [Kenyon, Reform’s candidate] fishes and he was showing us places in the constituency that meant a lot to him.
“Whilst there a few of us went into the cafe to use the toilet and have a cup of tea. The lady who runs the cafe sat down at our table and discussed how the cafe works and the challenges they faced. Nothing was planned it was just a convenience break.”
In response, Reform suggested Crompton's response had been politically influenced and claimed she had no issue with their presence at the time.
The party sent a reply which claimed that its photographers "took no photographs on the premises" and added: "We must admit that the tone and nature of your letter unfortunately gives rise to the impression that it is politically influenced, unlike our visit which was made in good faith and without political motivation."
