Woman charged with assault by beating and criminal damage after milkshake thrown at Nigel Farage

A woman has been charged with assault by beating and criminal damage after a milkshake was thrown at Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on the election campaign trail.

Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, has been charged following the incident at a campaign event in Clacton, Essex Police said.

She will appear at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Tuesday July 2.

Nigel Farage was coated in the drink in Marine Parade East, Clacton, at around 2.10pm on Tuesday.

A 44-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker has been released and will face no further action.

Mr Farage was walking out of the Moon & Starfish towards the Reform UK party bus at the time of the incident.

The politician, who had milkshake thrown over him in Newcastle upon Tyne in 2019, appeared to make light of the incident later, posing for a photograph with a tray of four milkshakes in the nearby village of Jaywick.

In a clip shared online, he raised a McDonald's milkshake in his hand and said "my milkshake brings all the people to the rally".

Mr Farage, who will appear at the BBC election debate on Friday, had a £5.25 Five Guys banana and salted caramel milkshake thrown at him in 2019 during a campaign walkabout in Newcastle.

"Milkshaking" - the act of dousing public figures in milkshake - was officially recognised by Collins Dictionary the same year.