A journalist's account of a chaotic and troubling Reform UK conference in Leicester, marked by confrontational protests, verbal abuse towards attendees, and a volatile atmosphere fueled by right-wing rhetoric. The event featured speakers like Lee Anderson, who faced interruptions from supporters and engaged in heated exchanges.
I had not even got inside the venue for Reform UK's East Midlands conference in Leicester when I heard a frightening shout of "go back to where you come from". It was being directed at me.
The crowds inside the Athena were absolutely bouncing off the walls and as the night went on, some members of the audience became increasingly vocal. "W*****", one of them shouted, after Lee Anderson mentioned Sadiq Khan on stage. "Are you with them lot", one protestor asked me. After again pointing out that I was a journalist, the protestor said that I was putting myself at risk by wearing a suit and tie, saying it was not a "streetwise" choice of attire.
I've never felt so unpopular. Yet Friday night spoke to so much more than the increasingly complex relationship between some parts of politics and some parts of the media.
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