The 19-year-old star Reform leader of Warwickshire County Council has been physically attacked in the street, with Nigel Farage blaming Sir Keir Starmer’s rhetoric for the assault. George Finch was branded a “racist” and a “fascist” during the assault on Friday night, echoing the language of both Sir Keir and the Green Party.
Mr Finch claimed the alleged attacker was “wound up and sent into battle by the dangerous rhetoric of Labour and the Greens”. Reform said both Mr Finch and a female friend were “physically attacked” in Nuneaton town centre by a young man. Mr Farage condemned Sir Keir after warning two weeks ago that the Prime Minister’s inflammatory rhetoric about the party’s deportation policy was endangering the safety of councillors and campaigners.
He told the Mail: “I’m deeply upset that our young council leader was assaulted.
“The words used against him echo the Prime Minister’s disgraceful attack on Reform during Labour conference week and wholly irresponsible comments from the leader of the Green Party.”
Detailing the traumatic incident, Mr Finch said the attack “came as a massive shock to me and my friend and was completely out of the blue”.
He added: “It’s clear that the man who attacked us was wound up and sent into battle by the dangerous rhetoric of Labour and the Greens.
“I’m extremely concerned about the state of political discourse in Britain. Reform UK activists at all levels are suffering intimidation and violence at the hands of Left-wing instigators.
“The politicians they follow know this, but are willingly allowing it to happen. They have a duty to speak out and quell the increased threat faced by my friends and colleagues.”
Ahead of Labour’s annual conference, Sir Keir branded Reform’s policy to tear up indefinite leave to remain “racist”.
Following his conference speech, Mr Farage held an instant live stream reaction to the speech, accusing the Prime Minister of inciting violence against Reform UK.
Mr Farage said the Prime Minister had given up attacking Reform’s arguments, and as a result had decided to “descend into the gutter”.
“Let us be clear, Reform want illegal migrants deported from our country,” said the Clacton MP.
“Reform want the benefit system to be for British citizens only, not for foreign-born nationals. Reform want foreign criminals removed from our country ASAP.
“Labour say this policy is racist and immoral, and by implication that Reform supporters, voters and sympathisers are racist too.”
Mr Farage said he does not worry himself about personal abuse, but to effectively accuse millions of being racist “is a very low blow”.
He added: “This language will incite the radical Left … it directly threatens the safety of our elected officials and campaigners.”
He cited the recent murder of Charlie Kirk, adding: “I think this is an absolute disgrace.”
A Labour spokesman said: “Violence, harassment or intimidation is completely unacceptable and has no place in our politics or our society. Any such incidents must be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators must be brought to justice.”
Warwickshire Police said it is investigating “an assault … in which a man stated he had been pushed by another man in Nuneaton”.