Nigel Farage has had a drink thrown over him after launching his election campaign in Essex.

The new leader of Reform UK was leaving the Moon and Starfish pub in Clacton, where he is standing to be an MP, when a young woman in a grey hooded jumper threw a drink over him.

It appeared to be a McDonald’s milkshake.

He was seen closing his eyes as the liquid hit his face, then wiped it away as he was ushered out of the way.

Just a few hours earlier, he had launched his election campaign after announcing he would be standing as a Reform UK candidate on Monday.

Last week he said he had ruled out standing as an MP. He has unsuccessfully attempted to become an MP seven times previously.

Richard Tice, who Mr Farage took over from as leader of Reform on Monday, stood up for his successor.

Election latest: Farage has milkshake thrown over him after launching campaign

Nigel Farage sets out plan for ‘reverse takeover’ of Conservative Party

Diane Abbott to stand for Labour in Hackney North and Stoke Newington, party confirms

“The juvenile moron who threw a drink over Nigel has just gained us hundreds of thousands more votes,” he wrote on social media.

“We will not be bullied or threatened off the campaign trail.”

It is not the first time Mr Farage has had a milkshake thrown at him.

In May 2019, Paul Crowther, from Newcastle, doused the then-Brexit Party leader with a £5.25 banana and salted caramel milkshake from burger chain Five Guys during a Newcastle city centre walkabout ahead of the European elections.

He was arrested at the scheme and pleaded guilty to common assault and criminal damage, and was ordered to pay Mr Farage £350 in compensation for the “politically motivated attack”.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

Related posts:

Police appeal after newborn baby found dead in Morrisons car park Protesters gather outside Old Trafford as Man Utd face Liverpool Imam ‘melancholic and upset’ as Muslims hold muted Eid al-Fitr celebrations Quarter of controversial statues removed, due to be removed or under review since Colston monument toppled UK records another 28,773 coronavirus infections and 37 related deaths – highest since 29 January Boris Johnson’s Savile remarks ‘not to blame’ for mob intimidation of Starmer, minister says London ‘working on plan’ to bring Olympics and Paralympics back, says Sadiq Khan ‘Devastating’ review of Scottish cricket finds it to be ‘institutionally racist’, Sky News understands Scotland to pledge new funding towards loss and damage from climate change suffered by vulnerable countries Travel disruption and person ‘missing at sea’ as Storm Noa winds reach 96mph Appeal after woman dies in four-vehicle crash Man remanded in custody over M62 crash death of boy, 12