The Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, has accused “leftwing” teaching unions of poisoning the minds of young people “against everything this country has ever stood for”.
His outburst came after anti-racist campaigners disrupted a Reform UK event on Tuesday where Farage was due to announce the party’s candidate for the forthcoming mayoral election in Doncaster.
Eight protesters, understood to come from the Stand up to Racism campaign, heckled Farage and were escorted out of the venue in South Yorkshire, to jeers from the audience.
Describing one protester as a “saddo”, and another as a “loser”, Farage criticised the educational establishment for nurturing views such as those held by the protesters.
“That’s what you get, folks, when teaching unions in this country are poisoning the minds of young people, not just against Reform, but against everything this country has ever stood for,” he told his audience.
“I’ll make it clear, when we’re in a position of power, we will go to war with these leftwing teaching unions and make sure our kids are taught properly.”
Farage dismissed the protesters as “boring” and told them to go back to school, adding: “We will not be stopped by a ranting student mob, we will fight on and win these elections in Doncaster.”
He went on: “We know these hard-left organisations are going to do everything … go back to school please, we know what’s going to happen. Boring, boring, boring.
“They will do everything they can to stop this being a free and fair election. Have a look at that. The anger, the anger, you must be at university.”
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, described Farage’s attack on teachers and unions as “unhinged”, and “copied from the Trump playbook”.
He added: “Schools and colleges work to educate our children in a fair and balanced way and to foster respect and collaboration. These are principles that will be alien to the leader of Reform.
“It is clear from the exchange in Doncaster that Reform have nothing to say on education and instead seeks to attack teachers and their unions. An unhinged move, copied from the Trump playbook.”
Sabby Dhalu, co-convener of Stand Up To Racism, said the group had challenged Farage because he and his party were “trying to spread hate and division at a time when we need unity”.
Weyman Bennett, another co-convener, said: “Reform claims to stand for ordinary people, but its real agenda is one of division and distraction. Farage is a millionaire banker who does not represent working-class interests.”
According to the party’s manifesto, Reform UK’s education policies include plans for a “patriotic” curriculum, a ban on “transgender ideology” in primary and secondary schools, tax relief of 20% on private schools and cuts to funding for universities “that undermine free speech”.
Alexander Jones is Reform’s candidate in the mayoral election. Farage described him as “young, energetic and exactly what’s needed to get Doncaster back on track”. Jones said: “Growing up in Doncaster showed me how our communities can be forgotten and failed by politicians who promise much but deliver little.”
