Nigel Farage no-show at media event in Hamilton

Nigel Farage was a no-show at his own media event in Hamilton on Monday afternoon.

The Reform UK party leader made a rare visit to Scotland on Monday ahead of the Hamilton, Larkhall, and Stonehouse by-election on Thursday, but he dodged a planned media event that was scheduled to begin at 2.15pm.

Reform previously told journalists that Farage would be visiting the region for a “walkabout” on Monday afternoon.

While the exact location was not immediately made available to journalists, the party said it would inform those who were planning on attending.

As rumours swirled the event would begin in the car park of a Premier Inn in the town, reporters, photographers, and broadcasters congregated there, waiting for around two hours for the Reform UK leader.

He did not appear at the event.

However, social media posts from both Farage and his party later showed the leader walking around Larkhall and meeting with fans.

“Out and about in Larkhall with [Reform UK candidate] Ross Lambie. Come and say hello,” the post stated.

Farage also posted pictures of another event which appeared to have been taken in the back court of the party’s offices in the town.

No official reason has been given by the party for Farage not attending the media event in Hamilton, which the party itself called.

Earlier in the day, Farage also visited Aberdeen for a party press conference, where he clashed with anti-Reform protesters outside.

Around 20 demonstrators had turned up outside the event, holding banners with messages including “Farage not welcome in Scotland” and chanting slogans such as “Farage, Farage we know you, you’re a racist through and through”.

He later accused the Herald of leaking the location of the press conference, which the paper has strenuously denied.