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Farage says he is ‘concerned about level of hatred’ since the Brexit referendum
Nigel Farage after he was doused in milkshake during a campaign walkabout in Newcastle. (Tom Wilkinson/PA Wire) - Credit: PA
Nigel Farage has said he is 'concerned' about the level of 'hatred' in politics following the EU referendum.
The Brexit Party leader had a banana and salted caramel drink from Five Guys thrown at him while on a walkabout in Newcastle city centre.
He said he did not know what was being thrown at him, and called for a message to be sent that "people can't behave like this".
Asked if he would change the way he campaigns, Farage told Harriet Line at the Press Association: "I hope not but I am concerned about the sheer level of hatred coming from those who think they're better than me.
"I just think we've reached a point where normal campaigning is becoming very difficult, and that in a democratic society cannot be a good thing."
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He said what happened to him was "part of something bigger that's going on".
"Civilised democracy only works if you've got the loser's consent - you know, you lose the election, you don't like it, but you accept it because that's the system.
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"Ever since 24 June 2016 we've had senior members of the British establishment - including two former prime ministers - literally refusing to accept the result, saying that those that voted Brexit didn't know what they were voting for - they're thick, they're stupid, they're lazy, they're racist, they're working class, they're fat, they're horrible.
"And that gives people on the other side of the argument a sense of moral superiority. And if you think you're better than everybody else that then leads, I'm afraid, to a breakdown, not just in democracy, but in the civilisation that goes with it.
"And I think we're in a very bad place with this."
Asked if he was frightened by what happened, Mr Farage replied: "It takes a lot to frighten me."
Just days before the incident Leave.EU, the campaign Nigel Farage backed in the EU referendum, tweeted a video mocking up the Brexit Party leader throwing beer over anti-Brexit politicians and smashing the Labour Party leader through a window.
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